NLRC allots special lane for 'endo' cases

The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) has allotted a special lane to accommodate cases of "endo" or end-of-contract, a report by GMA News' Maki Pulido on "24 Oras" said Wednesday.

The report, citing NLRC data, said 10 percent of the estimated 5,000 labor cases brought to commission since the start of 2017 were about contractualization.

"Binigyan po natin  ng priority. Ibig sabihin 'pag 'yun na-assess na concern ng worker, mabibigyan siya ng maaga-agang schedule," Belen Nicasio, head of NLRC's Singel Entry Approach, said in the report.

Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III last week formally ordered an immediate prohibition on "endo" in the country, the practice of indefinite contractualization by employers.

Issuing Department Order 174, Series of 2017, Bello ordered a prohibition on repeated hiring of employees by contractors under an employment contract of short duration that falls short of the mandated six months to qualify for regularization.

Lengthy process

But even with the special lane, the process in resolving labor cases, the report pointed out, could still take years.

If the employee and employer failed to have an agreement through mediation, the case will be brought for arbitration. The result of the arbitration, however, can still be appealed before the Supreme Court.

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines' (TUCP) Ric Lapesura said that a worker should pursue his or her complaint despite the tedious process involved.

"Ipaglaban mo ang regularization mo kasi pagka-'endo' mo is only a scheme na hindi ka ma-regular, but in reality regular employee ka at kung manalo ka magiging regular employee ka na," Lapesura said.

Not enough NLRC offices

The Philippines has a labor force of around 41 million. However, there is only one NLRC office in every region, the report said.

"Nandun po kami sa pagpla-plano na magkaroon ng mga offices pa... dagdagan ang mga opisian ng NLRC sa ibang lugar," Nicasio said.

The NLRC noted that the success of a complaint depends on the merits of the case. It advised employees to file complaints at the very first sign of abuse from employers. —John Ted Cordero/KBK, GMA News