DOLE Targets Regularization of 9,000 Workers in Eastern Visayas

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Eastern Visayas is targeting for the regularization of some 9,000 workers in the region this year.

Cyril Ticao, the new regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 8, disclosed that as of April 19, DOLE 8 recorded a total of 2,515 regularized employees and 419 additional workers after the conduct of regular inspections.

In addition, 1,677 benefitted when their employers voluntarily complied with the government’s directive to end labor-only contracting or endo.

Ticao also emphasized that contractual workers should be given a chance to become regular employees after six months.

He, however, said that the employer has the prerogative to hire and fire worker depending on the worker’s performance after one semester.

Further, he said that his office will strictly monitor the compliance of companies and business establishments to labor laws and informed that those found practicing illegal contractualization arrangements will be dealt with accordingly.

“We also have to follow due process in the process of regularization of workers,” he added.

On May 1, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Executive Order No. 51 which protects the right to security of tenure of all workers.

The national government has set the regularization of some 300,000 workers nationwide for 2018.  (JNPD/RSV/PIA-8, Leyte)