Palace: Duterte ‘open’ to suggestions to tweak anti-endo bill

President Rodrigo Duterte is “open” to suggestions on how to tweak the Security of Tenure bill after the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) commented that the measure needs to be adjusted, Malacañang said Thursday.

The idea is to ensure fairness for both the business sector and the employees, according to NEDA.

During the State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 22, Duterte said he has yet to make up his mind on the proposed measure which is set to lapse into law by the end of this week.

However, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia noted on Wednesday the need to strike a balance between the concerns of workers and businesses.

Several business groups have been urging Duterte to veto the bill, claiming that signing it into law could lead to job losses and affect the economy.

“The President is always open to suggestion. He rationalizes. If he feels that signing the law will create no beneficial effects to the major players, he might consider vetoing it. But if he doesn’t feel that way, he will sign that into law. Ganoon naman si Presidente,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said at a news conference when asked if Duterte was inclined to consider Pernia’s position.

“He’s just open to all. But the buck stops on his table,” he added.

The proposed measure would eliminate subcontracting of labor and limit job contracting to licensed and specialized services.

This would also classify workers into regular and probationary employees and treat project and seasonal employees as regular employees. —VDS, GMA News