LEGAZPI CITY -– The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 5 (Bicol) noted an increase in the number of contractual workers finally regularized by their private employers in response to the government’s call to end contractualization.
A total of 6,721 workers gained regular employment from their companies here in Bicol for the first semester of the year.
Of this number, 4,211 were regularized through inspections conducted by the Labor department. On the other hand, 2,510 were regularized voluntarily by their respective employers.
DOLE-Bicol recorded 167 establishments in all provinces of Bicol that regularized their workers from January to June 2018. At least 137 companies regularized their employees upon visit by the agency’s inspectors, while 30 establishments did it voluntarily.
“This is part of the 10-point agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte to put to end prohibited contractual arrangements in the country. We encourage employers to submit their roster of employees and voluntarily regularize their workers following under such work arrangements in their respective establishments,” Rovelinda dela Rosa, OIC regional director, said.
“In doing so, we will avoid the rigorous process of enforcement through our inspection program, and eventually filing of cases to ensure the security of tenure of our workers,” she said.
Dela Rosa added that as part of the advocacy to stop “endo” (end of contract) and promote regularization in Bicol region, the department highlights the policy whenever there are labor management fora, wage consultation meetings and other labor-related activities in the region.
Apart from this, the Labor department conducts routine inspections, in which they evaluate private establishments’ compliance with labor laws and social legislation through a prescribed Inspection Checklist.
According to DOLE OIC Assistant Regional Director Imee Romanillos, “as to routine inspections, our agency prioritizes establishments engaged in manufacturing, agriculture, services (hospitals, hotels, restaurants, food chains), contractors and sub-contractors (security agencies), telecommunications (BPOs) and construction projects.”
“We reach out to the employers to comply and work with us in the upliftment of the lives of the Bicolano workers,” she added.
DOLE-Bicol recognizes establishments that observe labor rules and regulations, especially on ending contractualization. (Connie Calipay/PNA)
