By Ferdinand Patinio/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment on Thursday expressed hope that President Rodrigo Duterte will sign the Security of Tenure Bill (SOT) soon.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III reported that the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) told him that the proposed measure, which seeks to prohibit all illegal employment schemes and subcontracting of Filipino workers, was enrolled on Friday and may be signed into law by the President anytime soon.
“We are anticipating the signing of the SOT Bill, which is landmark legislation under the Duterte administration,” Bello said in a statement.
“Ensuring the workers’ security of tenure is among the priorities of our President and we are hopeful that the President will soon sign the bill into law to enhance the enjoyment of their constitutional rights to job security,” he added.
Bello said that he submitted a recommendation for the enactment of the bill on Monday, emphasizing that the legislation will clarify the ambiguities in existing laws with defined types of employment arrangements.
“The Congress-approved measure will strengthen workers’ security of tenure by prohibiting unlawful contracting arrangements, and provide penalties for its violations,” he said.
The Senate Bill No. 1826 or the Security of Tenure or End Endo Act of 2018, was approved on third and final reading in May and later on adopted by the House of Representatives, bypassing the needed bicameral conference.
It has been certified as urgent in September 2018 fulfilling the President’s promise to put an end to the prevalent practices of contractualization and labor-only contracting.
The bill could lapse into law if not acted upon within 30 days after it was enrolled in Malacañang.
Ending contractualization was a campaign promise of Duterte in 2016.
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