DOLE’s ENDO Info Drive Yields Positive Results

Following the information drive on ending contractualization, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-7) received reports on voluntary compliance of establishments on regularization of workers.

DOLE-7 Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga said four establishments reported voluntary compliance, while 48 of the 79 directly-hired workers whose employment status were rectified are now regular employees.

DOLE-7 recently went full blast in its orientation and conduct of massive information drive on ending ENDO and other forms of illegitimate employment arrangements.

“We noted a 60.76% accomplishment rate from these establishments, who turned in their voluntary compliance reports. Said establishments are DES Strong Motors Incorporated, Royal Krua Thai Incorporated, Badian Island Wellness Resort & Sarrosa International Suites and Residences,” Sarcauga said.

DOLE-7 has received voluntary compliance reports from seven principals engaged with eight service providers.

The department tallied 1,143 contractual workers from said establishments of which around 469 had been regularized with 41.03% accomplishment rate, said DOLE-7 Labor Communication Officer Luchelle Taniza.

The seven principals are Teradyne Philippines, Ltd., Yasaka Philippines International Corporation, Quest Dental, Sawo Incorporated, Automated Incorporated, Yamashin Cebu Filter Manufacturing Corporation and Makoto Metal Tech Incorporated, added Taniza.

Taniza said the eight service providers are Cebu General Services Incorporated, International Manpower Essentials Incorporated, Esynergy Skill Resources Incorporated, Otagai Tetsudai Manpower Services Incorporated, Sugureta Corporation, Top Jobs Manpower Services, XYMS Manpower Agency and RKMS Manpower Agency.

“The legal basis of legitimate or job contracting and the illegitimate or labor only-contracting (LOC) arrangements is found in Articles 106 to 109 of the Labor Code. We commend these establishments for their positive response to our campaign on putting a stop to ENDO and other illegitimate forms of employment arrangements. We likewise encourage other companies in various industries to comply voluntarily otherwise, we will subject them to inspection and compliance visit,” said Sarcauga.

He added that DOLE-7 is exerting its best efforts in responding to the marching orders of the President through Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III, which is the regularization of contractual workers by 50 percent in the Region before 31 December 2016 and 100 percent regularization of contractual workers before 31 December 2017.

“Submission of the list of regularized workers is not enough. That is why; I have directed the LLCOs and the DOLE-Technical Services and Support Division-Labor Relations and Standards to get documentary proofs from establishments, which tendered their voluntary compliance report to us,” he said.

According to Sarcauga, in order to validate if said establishments are compliant, they need to give the DOLE copy of the following, namely: (1) appointment of regularized workers; (2) enrollment of the workers in the payroll; and (3) proof of remittance for SSS, PhilHealth, and PAG-IBIG.

Sarcauga explained that with the DOLE’s ENDO assessments, the Labor Laws Compliance Officers (LLCOs) will look into the soundness and legitimacy of the bilateral employment arrangements where workers are directly hired.

“We check the employment status of the workers, whether they are regular or non-regular in the direct hiring provision stipulated in Article 280 of the Labor Code of the Philippines,” he said.(rmn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu with DOLE-7 report)