Senatorial candidate Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez wants to make the “contractualization” practice of companies illegal, saying that employers who keep on violating labor rights should be imprisoned.
Romualdez said Congress should put an end to the “contractualization” system, also known as “endo” (end of contract) and “555” (five-months contract) as the nation celebrates Labor Day today.
“We will make contractualization illegal and send violators to jail,” he said.
“The absence of security of tenure to their jobs contributes to poverty that we have been addressing for a very long time. We have to emphasize that malasakit will help address their concerns,” Romualdez said.
He said it is about time for Congress to plug the loopholes in the Labor Code to ensure that the rights of workers are protected.
“We should specify which industries can make use of sub-contracted manpower/recruitment agencies,” he said.
Romualdez said wide-ranging benefits – 13th month pay, health plan, housing program, Christmas, and other bonuses – should be given to workers.
“Let us delete this unfair (contractualization) practice of employment. This is giving our workers too much burden and preventing them to draw better planning for the future of their loved ones,” he said.
“If we work on stamping out the contractualization system, we are helping workers’ families enjoy economic security,” Romualdez, who was earlier endorsed by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines for senator, said.
