Senators yesterday rejected the proposal being pushed by a congressman to extend the period of probation for workers from the current six months to two years.
Senate President Tito Sotto said the bill filed in the House of Representatives would go against the efforts to stop the practice of contractualization by companies.
“It practically goes against the move to remove contractualization. It needs a considerable amount of study,” Sotto said.
House Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said that it would be “dead on arrival” in the Senate should it hurdle the House of Representatives.
“I will oppose its passage. If the House passes it, consider it DoA in the Senate. Hindi ito makatarungan. Hindi makatwiran,” Drilon said.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan said prolonging the probationary period would be unconstitutional as it would violate the right of workers to security of tenure.
“That may open the floodgates to even greater abuse. Security of tenure of labor is a right recognized and protected by our Constitution. Lengthening the probationary period three fold prevents the worker from enjoying such a right under our charter,” he said.
House Bill No. 4802, authored by Probinsyano Ako partylist Rep. Jose “Bonito” Singson Jr., seeks to give employers longer time in determining whether or not an employee may be qualified for regularization and granted benefits that go with this employment status.
Sen. Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, had earlier said the maximum six-month probationary employment period provides employers enough “window of opportunity” to vet if their workers have the skills to be regular employees.
The Executive branch, as well as other House members, also opposed the Singson proposal. (Vanne Terrazola)
