Caritas Philippines is disappointed that "endo" or end of contractualization is no longer a priority of President Duterte as this was among his campaign promises.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, Caritas Philippines’ national director, said this is a blow to the labor force and their families.
“To say that endo (end of contractualization) is no longer a priority of President Duterte is a blow not only to the labor force, but to even to their families who are severely affected by the pandemic,” he said in a statement on July 10.
"At a time when our laborers are threatened to be cut from work anytime, when majority of contractual employees do not receive proper remuneration and benefits, the president could have shown more guts and stand by the country’s work force,” added Bagaforo.
The social action arm of the Catholic Church also criticized the government’s prioritization of the Foreign Investments Act, and Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, over the abolition of an unjust labor scheme of hiring and firing workers to avoid regularization.
Father Antonio Labiao, Caritas Philippines’ executive secretary, stressed the need to “provide stimulus packages to small businesses so they can support their workers.”
He also emphasized the urgency of legislating the end to contractualization “to dignify Filipino workers.”
On July 8, newly appointed concurrent adviser for political affairs Jacinto Paras said that the proposed “endo” law is currently not high in the president’s priority legislations.