MANILA – Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III said Thursday the umbrella organization of private sector employers in the Philippines has committed to regularize workers of member-companies.
Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) informed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) about the plan to regularize all employees – starting off with 40 percent.
The Cabinet official did not say when the plan would be implemented.
“Biro mo … no less than the employers are offering to regularize all their employees and they’re starting with 40 percent of their employees. Unexpected talaga ito,” Bello said at a news conference in Malacañang.
“But then we have to find out how soon do they intend to accomplish ‘yung other 60 percent [of workers].”
In exchange, Bello said the Labor department will no longer make compliance inspections “the moment we can agree on the regularization plan.”
“In other words hindi na sila gagambalain ng aming mga inspectors unless, of course, may magrereklamo,” he added.
ECOP describes the confederation as an umbrella organization of various industry groups serving as “a single voice for the entire business community on important national issues related to employment, industrial relations, labor issues, and related social policies.”
Its affiliate organizations include the Garment Business Association of the Philippines, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., Textile Mills Association of the Philippines, Semiconductor Electronics Industry Foundation Inc., Philippine Retailers Association, and Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines.
Government data showed 411,449 workers were regularized as of October 2018. DOLE noted its strict implementation of measures against illegal forms of contractualization has been bearing fruit.
At least 70 percent of workers were voluntarily regularized by employers, while 30 percent were regularized as a result of the department’s compliance inspections. (GMA News)
