Four learning sessions on contractualization were recently organized by the Department of Labor and Employment- Bohol Field Office (DOLE-BFO) in partnership with the Bohol Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (Bohol-TIPC).  The sessions were participated in by hotels, restaurants, manpower agencies, security agencies, malls, contractors, among others.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte made it clear that the government would prioritize ending ENDO or end of contract. “Contractualization must go, it is anti-people,” Duterte mentioned in his press conference in Davao City last May 23, 2016.

With this, the Department of Labor and Employment led by Secretary Silvestre Bello strengthened the information drive and consultations about permissible and prohibited contracting throughout the regions in the country.

DOLE-7 Regional Office intensified its awareness advocacy on the said matter and first conducted several consultations with different establishments first in Cebu City.

Furthermore, the DOLE learning sessions and consultations here in the city was joined in by Atty. Roy Buenafe, DOLE 7 Legal Officer, and Supervising Labor and Employment Officer Ma. Teresa Tanquiamco.

Officer -in-charge German A. Guidaben of DOLE Bohol who is also the secretary of Bohol TIPC led and graced the events.

“Labor-Only Contracting is prohibited”, Atty. Buenafe stated. The statement relates to the Labor Advisory No. 10, 2016 which states the prohibition against Labor-Only Contracting (LOC). This is pursuant to Articles 5 and 106 to 109 of the Labor Code, as amended and consistent with the policy directives to strictly implement and enforce the workers’ right to security of tenure.

He made it clear that prohibited contracting or the Labor-Only Contracting can be identified if the contractor does not have substantial capital or investment to actually perform the job, work or service under its own account and responsibility. Moreover, the employees recruited, supplied or placed by such contractor are performing activities which are directly related to the main business of the principal.

Tanquiamco also shared about the new forms released by the department to capture data on contracting establishments and manpower agencies. She mentioned that the forms must be passed to the department within the month of September.

OIC Guidaben also revealed that registration of New Applicants as Contractors or Subcontractors under Department Order No. 18-A is suspended as stated in D.O. 162, series of 2016.

Around 180 establishments participated the learning sessions and about 250 individuals joined the events.

As a feedback, the establishment owners hoped for more learning sessions on contracting in the future. In all four sessions, open forums were made. (H. Pizana)