Robredo wants to end 'labor only' contracting

 

Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo took a strong stance against contractualization or "labor only contracting" practiced by companies.

During the “Harapan ng Bise” vice presidential debate hosted by ABS-CBN on Sunday, Robredo said "Balak naming alisin ang contractualization." 

Robredo was one of four vice presidential candidates who participated in the debate. The three others were Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, and Antonio Trillanes IV. Two other senators running for vice president -- Bongbong Marcos and Gringo Honasan — skipped the event.

Robredo's stance against contractualization is similar to that of Marcos, who, in last week's PiliPinas Vice Presidential Debate, said he wants to head the Labor Department and put an end to contractualization, a common practice among private companies in the Philippines.

"Bawat trabaho, dapat regular at sapat ang kita," Robredo said.

She said jobs in the country should enable workers to provide sufficiently for their families.

The Labor Code prohibits “labor-only contracting” and specifies that there should be an employer-employee relationship between the contractor or subcontractor and the contractual employee.

According to the Labor Code’s “Rights of Contractual Employees," contractual employees should be entitled to all the rights and privileges received by regular employees, such as: 

• safe and healthy working conditions; 
• leaves, rest days, overtime pay, holiday pay, 13th month pay and separation pay; 
• social security benefits; 
• collective bargaining, and 
• security of tenure.

— APG, GMA News