Anti-endo bill may lapse into law but Panelo says Duterte hasn’t talked about it

The bill seeking to strengthen the security of tenure of employees in the private sector and to put an end to contractualization may lapse into law if not acted upon by President Rodrigo Duterte by next week.

Ratified by the Senate and House of Representatives in May, the anti-endo bill was transmitted to Malacañang for Duterte’s signature on June 27.

Under the Constitution, any bill that is neither signed nor vetoed by the President will automatically lapse into law 30 days after it was forwarded by Congress.

Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President “hasn’t talked about” the bill.

“But you know, the problem with these bills as he explained it, there are so many documents he has to sign. And at the same time, he has so many activities that he has to attend to out of town trips, he visits one place and then another place,” Panelo told reporters.

“Meanwhile, documents pile up kaya kung minsan hindi niya nakikita iyong iba.”

Panelo also said the President will consider the opposition of business groups that argued the bill is redundant and not good for the economy.

“Of course. The President is always appreciative and considerate on whatever opposition or concerns raised by any sector in this country relative to any bill passed in Congress and subject to his signature or veto,” he said.

The proposed measure prohibits subcontracting out the same work contracted out by the employer.

It also seeks to limit job contracting to licensed and specialized services and classify workers into regular and probationary employees, treating project and seasonal employees as regular employees.

At the same time, if the contractor fails to pay the wages, allowances and benefits of his employees, the employer will be jointly liable with the contractor to the employees to the extent of the work performed under the contract.

If illegal dismissal happens, the employee is entitled to immediate reinstatement even pending appeal and without loss of seniority rights and benefits. — MDM, GMA News