A total of 17,000 more contractual workers will become regular before the end of December, according to Labor Sec. Silvestre H. Bello III.
Bello told Davao journalists in a briefing yesterday that some 32,000 contractuals have been regularized as of December 22.
He said that a big nationwide food chain has committed to regularize 17,000 more workers of the company before December 31st, in answer to the appeal of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to the business community to end the illegal practice.
“A management lawyer in Cebu City likewise told me that the company he is representing is also scheduled to regularize 700 workers before the end of 2016, and another 700 in 2017,” Bello said.
The Labor secretary said President Duterte’s program to end the illegal practice of contractualization is on tract.
He however said that the program does not include workers who are hired lawfully under Republic Act 106 which allows the temporary hiring of security guards and seasonal workers whose employment ends when they are no longer needed.
Bello said the government program against endo is being implemented after a continuing series of consultations with the business sector.
During the press briefing, the Labor secretary also announced the recent appointment of the Mariano “Marnie” R. Alquiza, former regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 11 as assistant secretary for regional operations of the Department of Labor and Employment.
Alquiza is a resident of Davao City having started his government employment with DPWH here with most of his brothers and sisters who are all professionals.
He is a licensed civil engineer who finished college studies from the University of San Carlos in Cebu.
