Duterte seeks add’l time period to study EO abolishing ‘endo’

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte convenes with the various government and non-government stakeholders from the labor sector at the Malacañan Palace on February 7, 2018. Among the issues discussed include the contractualizations, wage setting, government cash subsidy, the workers’ representation in Tripartite Bodies, recruitment and facilitation fees and freedom of association in economic zones. Joining the President is Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III. RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Labor groups expressed disappointment after President Rodrigo Duterte asked for an additional time period to study the proposed executive order ending contractualization work arrangement, otherwise known as ENDO or end-of-contract scheme.

“Duterte promised endo (end of contract) and contractualization would be ended during the May 2016 elections. Obviously, he is finding the road to the signing replete with obstacles,” Mendoza told GMA News Online on Thursday.

“But we reminded our President of the pitfalls and dead ends for millions of endos and contractuals. Our President asked for more time,” he added.

“He wants a small study group this March and we will engage this. He said we will meet again in March with this study group and we will engage him,” Mendoza said.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the President sought for more time as he is studying the matter thoroughly.

“I was made to understand that he asked for more time to issue the executive order on endo and that’s all I was informed by the head of protocol. He’s studying the matter more thoroughly,” Roque said in a press briefing.

Earlier, the President expressed strong opposition against the labor practice of hiring workers for short-term, and asked labor groups to draft an Executive Order abolishing the abusive contractualization.

Duterte, then, vowed to do his part.

“I stand firm in my convictions to end endo. The Labor Code guarantees all workers the rights to security of tenure. This has to be strictly enforced. Panahon lang [We need time]. To this end, I will issue an executive order (EO) directing the strict implementation of existing provisions of laws against endo and labor-only contracting,” Duterte said earlier.