Bayan Muna solons accuse Duterte of vetoing anti-endo bill to protect capitalists

Bayan Muna Representatives Carlos Isagani Zarate and Ferdinand Gaite accused Friday President Rodrigo Duterte of protecting the rights of capitalist for vetoing what they claimed was a “watered down” version of the anti-endo measure or the Security of Tenure bill.

Duterte has completely turned his back on workers and reneged on his campaign promise to stop contractualization, the lawmakers said.

“Malabnaw na version na nga lang ng SOT bill ang pinapipirmahan sa kanya ay vineto pa nya ito dahil mas mahalaga sa kanya ang mga kapitalista kesa sa mga naghihirap na mga mangagagawa,” Zarate said.

“Isa na namang campaign promise ang ‘di tinupad ni President Duterte dahil dito,” he added.

Gaite said that the President devoted two and a half paragraphs to his veto message explaining labor or job contracting is necessary. “[B]usinesses should be allowed to determine whether to outsource their activities or not ... regardless of whether this is directly related to their business,” the lawmaker noted.

“This is the crux of the contractualization issue and the reason why a majority of labor groups oppose the SOT bill as it still allows capital to determine work relationships. What is more profitable for business will always be the underlying motive and not what is good for the laborers,” he added.

Although militant labor groups oppose the Security of Tenure Bill, they do not oppose providing genuine security of tenure to the workers, Gaite said.

“However, President Duterte is opposing the bill for an entirely different reason, that is protecting the rights of capitalist,” he added.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed to reporters that Duterte rejected the Security of Tenure bill.

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

It aims to classify workers into regular and probationary employees and treat project and seasonal employees as regular employees.

Business groups opposed the bill, claiming it would lead to job losses and adversely affect the economy. —VDS, GMA News