One of the country’s largest conglomerates SM Investments Corporation assures the Filipino public that none of its workers was hired on a contractual basis. The Philippines biggest mall, retail and banking group, stated in a news briefing on Wednesday that there are instances when the company hired on a “seasonal” basis.
The “endo” topic or those persons hired on a contractual basis is considered as one of the hottest topics among presidential aspirants who promised to end if elected as President of the Republic of the Philippines. It was Mayor Rody Duterte who first open up the “endo” topics on his plans but later on the other presidential candidates followed the mayor’s lead.
According to SM Investments president Harley Sy, on certain periods hired people on a “seasonal” basis, such as during the busy Christmas holidays, to augment its workforce. Its annual report given to shareholders showed it had 65,400 regular and probationary workers last year, making it one of the county’s largest employers.
The term contractualization is a hiring practice covering a short period, usually less than six months. It is also called “endo” or end of contract. This kind of practice allows a corporation to skirt labor laws that requires regularization, which entails benefits like paid leaves, healthcare and pensions at the company’s expense.
The country’s largest mall operators and considered as one of the country’s largest employer explained that seasonal hiring was required on their company, given the SM group’s business that mainly cater to the booming consumer economy, but nevertheless they would comply with any legislation passed.
SM Prime Holdings Inc., the country’s biggest mall developer, with 56 shopping centers in the Philippine and six in mainland China already spend between P80 billion to P85 million this year for expansion. In the year 2016, the company would be opening five new malls in the country and planned to expand SM City Calamba in Laguna and SM City Naga in Bicol province.