Solon wants to extend 6-month probationary employment period to 2 years

A measure has been filed at the House of Representatives seeking to extend the maximum prescribed period of probationary employment from six months to 24 months or two years.

In filing House Bill 4802, Probinsyano Ako party-list Representative Jose "Bonito" Singson Jr. argued that the six-month probationary employment period prescribed under the Labor Code is not enough to assess whether an employee is qualified for regularization, particularly in positions requiring specialized skills and talents.

This, he said, therefore "limits the right of the employer to secure quality employees."

"Considering the advent of technological advances in various industries, the probationary employees must undergo a series of developmental training and assessment to ascertain their ability to do the job," Singson said.

"In every stage of the development, the probationary employee must satisfy a set of standards to qualify. These processes demand more time, which in a lot of cases takes more than six months."

At the same time, extending the probationary employment period will allow employees to prove their value to the employer, especially their skills, talents and other qualifications needed for them to be regularized, Singson said.

"Probationary employees will have a better chance to improve their performance, meet their targets, and learn new skills that will allow them to meet the required standards set by the employer," he added.

"Furthermore, this measure will also provide an opportunity for the probationary employees to have continuous employment for more than six months, which will enable them to qualify for some of the mandatory benefits under existing laws."

The measure is currently pending before the House Committee on Labor and Employment. Once it is enacted into law, the Secretary of Labor and Employment is mandated to promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within 120 days from its effectivity. —KBK, GMA News