De Guzman, factory worker for 13 yrs, says capitalistic interests hinder passage of anti-endo law in Congress

Labor leader Leodigario "Ka Leody" de Guzman, who running for senator, said on Saturday that capitalistic interest of lawmakers was the reason contractualization remains a pressing employment issue in the country.

"'Yan ang dahilan kung bakit ako tumakbo dahil yung ating Senado at Kongreso, majority dyan ay puro mga nasa bulsa ng mga kapitalista kaya hindi magawa 'yung isang batas na talagang magbabawal sa kontraktwalisasyon," De Guzman said in Debate 2019: The GMA Senatorial Face-off.

"Ang masakit nga, sa halip na ipagbawal tulad ng pangako ay naging legal ang kontraktwalisasyon ngayon dahil pinananatili 'yung third party, 'yung labor contractor, 'yung manpower agency," he added.

De Guzman is affiliated with the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP). He previously said that he was banking on the vote of the laborers in the country in his election bid.

The militant leader shared that he had been a factory worker for 13 years and that he would bring his advocacy for workers' regularization once he wins a seat in the Senate.

Asked whether he is in favor of accepting senior citizens in the labor force, De Guzman said: "Sang-ayon ako dyan batay doon sa trabahong ibibigay sa kanila. Hindi mabibigat... payagan po natin silang makapaglingkod sa ating bayan." —LDF, GMA News