Bongbong wants ‘endo’ scrapped for non-seasonal workers

Former Senator and presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Monday he will end the end-of-contract scheme of contractualization of workers for non-seasonal employees.

Marcos, during a forum with Go Negosyo, argued that President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed the Security of Tenure bill in July 2019 precisely because not every employee can be covered by the said measure.

"Meron talagang trabaho na seasonal, and there are businesses that are not seasonal. Kahit iyong mga retailer, pag Pasko, napakaraming customers, kailangan mo kumuha ng tao kahit casual. Pagkatapos ng season, bibitawan mo rin," Marcos said.

(There are seasonal jobs, and this is true even for retailers. When it is Christmas season, there are a lot of customers and you need to increase workforce and even get casual employees. When the season is over, you will let them go.)

"We have to adjust to reality. Pero 'pag 'di ka naman seasonal, ibigay natin 'yung security [of tenure] at ibang benespisyo," Marcos added.

(If you do not do seasonal workers, there should be security of tenure and benefits due them should be granted.)

The Security of Tenure bill, which eliminates subcontracting of labor, limits job contracting to licensed and specialized services and treats project and seasonal employees as regular employees, was rejected by President Duterte in July 2019.

The Palace was unclear as to why the President rejected the measure, a campaign promise that he vowed to achieve within a month.

Likewise, Marcos said the government should grant tax amnesty to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which were heavily hit by the necessity of restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"My proposal is to grant tax amnesty dun sa mga naglockdown [na MSMEs]...huwag muna magkolekta ng buwis hanggang makaahon sila," Marcos added. — RSJ, GMA News