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| Bayan-NMR criticized Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for failing to highlight the steps to end contractualization during his SONA |
An article by Alwen Saliring and Erwin Mascarinas for Sun Star said members of Bayan-NMR also criticized Duterte for not giving proper emphasis on the plight of the laborers, farmers, the lumad and his plans on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) during his SONA.
Almost 10,000 people across the region gathered in Cagayan de Oro City in order to stage the support rally of Duterte’s SONA. The gathering was unusual as it was made to support Duterte; contrary to the usual protest rallies against the SONA of former presidents in the country.
Wildon Barros, Bayan-NMR Secretary General, said that Duterte failed to mention one of his promises during the elections, which is ending the contractualization scheme that has failed to provide security of tenure among laborers.
The group was also disappointed with Duterte not mentioning his plans on scrapping EDCA and junking the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).
Barros revealed that the group will stage protest rallies in the coming days to claim the promises of Duterte, and rated his SONA a five out of 10.
An article by Ina Andolong for CNN Philippines said the Duterte administration promised to be firm on imposing a no-contractualization policy; however, it may be lenient to companies with thousands of employees.
Incoming Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello said his department will work with business executives to stress to them that the new administration will not allow contractualization.
Contractualization is an arrangement where workers are hired for not more than five months; stripping them of benefits granted to regular employees by law. Such workers are provided by labor-only suppliers or agencies.
