Bello to sign new order on contractualization
Bello said the signing will be held right before a meeting of the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (NTIPC). Bello was originally set to sign the order last Thursday, but the meeting with the NTIPC, where he had been expected to present details of the draft order, was cancelled.
Bello said the order will reflect the instruction of President Duterte to end all forms of contractualization, but only as far as the mandate of the department can cover.
He reiterated that laws allow some forms of contractualization, which he said could not be prohibited by the DOLE alone.
“The position of the President is very clear, and that is to end contractualization. This means all contractualization arrangements that are prohibited by law. As for other contractual arrangements allowed by law, we have to regulate. That is the only extent of my powers or authority,” said Bello.
Asked if he expects the order to satisfy labor groups which are banking on Duterte’s promise to end all forms of contractualization, Bello said, “We cannot please everybody. You cannot please all the demands of every sector. If it is within my power, I will end all forms of contractualization. If it is not within my power, then I will leave that to the President because I don’t want to be engaged in any illegal activity. My initial position is that I don’t have that authority,” he said.
He said ending all forms of contractualization is actually in the hands of lawmakers.
“There are pending bills but I don’t know their progress in Congress. It advocates total prohibition of contractualization. If that will happen, then it has to be followed. It is the law. But until then, we have to observe the existing laws on contractual arrangements,” said Bello.
On Monday last week, Duterte met with several labor groups in Malacañang and reportedly reiterated his firm position to end all forms of contractualization work schemes. – Gerard Naval
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