Fight against endo is more difficult to pursue in Congress.
ENDO- Labor groups and workforce expect a more difficult fight following President Duterte’s authorization of Executive Order No. 51 on ‘endo’.
In a previous report, President Rodrigo Duterte signed an Executive Order imposing a veto to supposedly end job contractualization practices in celebration of the nationwide Labor Day on May 1.
However, many labor groups were not satisfied by the EO signed by the President as it allegedly sides with the employers, perceiving that it was just a reiteration of the Labor Code.
Based on a report from PhilStar, Renato Magtubo, chairman of the opposing labor group Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), disclosed in a statement that they assume a more challenging fight before the Congress against unjust contract labor.
“A bigger question, consequently, is bothering our workers now: will Congress, which is known for greasy political horse-trading, stand stronger than the mightiest President this country ever had?” he said.
The PM Chairman further added that labor groups’ years of protests and dutiful conscripting of the five EO drafts have been put to waste after the President submitted to Congress the resolution to end ‘endo’. He stressed that the “die is cast” and it is the side of the capitalists who gained victory for having captured the executive and the heart of the President.
Magtubo also highlighted that Duterte acknowledged that the signed EO is restricted only to what is stated under the Labor Code but he never cited that the restriction can be attained by the grant of executive powers to forbid contracting and subcontracting.
“The President said he cannot be a legislator to correct the Labor Code’s constraints. That, to us, sounded so legalese and diplomatic for a President known for unorthodox political brinkmanship,” said Magtubo.
On the other hand, The Associated Labor Unions (ALU) remains hopeful that the Senate will not be prejudiced with regards to handling the case. ALU Spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said they were hoping that the Senate will not be swayed by corrupt employers or businessmen.
Leftist legislators also voiced out their disappointment over the EO signed by the President, valiantly branding the order as ‘a piece of garbage’.
“It’s useless because the Labor Code already prohibits labor-only contracting. What is needed is a ban on all forms of job contracting,” Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said.
