President Duterte, labor groups to meet in end-February to discuss contractualization

President Rodrigo Duterte will personally hear the concerns of labor groups on contractualization, at their meeting set later this month, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said on Monday. (Photo: Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines)/ Facebook)

MANILA –President Rodrigo Duterte will personally hear the concerns of labor groups on contractualization, at their meeting set later this month, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said on Monday.

“The President will dialogue with labor groups on February 27. The main agenda, of course, is contractualization,” he said in a statement.

With this, Bello urged stakeholders to support the possibility of finding a common ground that would be mutually beneficial to all concerned sectors.

The DOLE chief is optimistic that the discussion will result to the crafting of a compromise between workers and employers’ group in ending illegal contractualization practices.

“That is what the department is aiming for,” he added.

Meanwhile, a total of 35,855 contractual workers nationwide have been regularized by their employers as of end-January.

Of the number, 31,756 workers were regularized after the DOLE Regional Offices conducted consultations with 7,433 contractors and principals.

About 4,099 workers were regularized after the assessment in 1,001 establishments.