MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has opposed the bill filed by Probinsyano Ako Party-list Rep. Jose Singson Jr. seeking to extend the employment probation period from six months to two years.
“I don’t think it is necessary for a worker to undergo a probationary period of two years for an employer to determine his qualification. Six months is enough,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a statement on Saturday.
Extending the probation period violates workers’ right to security of tenure, Bello said.
“Delaying a worker’s assurance of permanent employment is no longer in keeping with the administration’s policy on security of tenure,” he added.
Bello also said that the proposal might encourage illegal contractualization practices.
Among them is the practice of “endo”, as employers can terminate the workers within two years, which would limit a worker’s right to statutory benefits as a regular employee.
Under the law, workers are given a six-month probation period and shall be considered a regular employee after the lapse of the period.
Singson, in his proposal, said a six-month probation period is not enough to determine a worker’s qualification for regular employment.