Nograles thanks House for approving bill slashing validity of CBA representation to 3 years
At A Glance
- House Committee on Labor and Employment Chairman Rep. Fidel Nograles thanked the lower chamber for its approval of a bill reducing the duration and validity of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in terms of its representation from the current five years to three years.
Rizal 4th district Rep. Fidel Nograles
House Committee on Labor and Employment Chairman Rep. Fidel Nograles thanked the lower chamber for its approval of a bill reducing the duration and validity of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in terms of its representation from the current five years to three years.
“We thank our colleagues in the House of Representatives for recognizing the need to reduce the term of CBA representatives from five to three years. This is a seemingly simple revision to the current law that would redound to the benefit of employees,” the Rizal 4th district solon said.
The measure, embodied in House Bill (HB) No.9320, was recently approved on the third and final reading. It garnered 210 affirmative votes and zero negative votes and abstentions.
The bill seeks to amend Article 265 of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 442 or the Philippine Labor Code, which sets CBA representation term at five years.
HB No. 9320 also provides that all provisions of the CBA will remain in full force and effect during the effectivity of the agreement.
Nograles, who sponsored the bill, emphasized the importance of the bill in ensuring accountability on the part of CBA representatives.
“Five years is too long if the chosen representative turns out to be ineffective and does not represent the best interests of the workers,” Nograles said.
“Sa pagpapaiksi ng termino ng CBA representation, magkakaroon ng sapat na pagkakataon ang mga empleyado hindi lang ng kanilang representante, kundi pati na rin sa pagtaguyod ng kanilang karapatan na pumasok sa negosasyon tungkol sa iba’t ibang isyu na nakakabit sa kanilang trabaho,” he added.
(By shortening the term of CBA representation, employees will have adequate opportunity not only for their representative, but also for upholding their right to enter into negotiations regarding various issues related to their work.)
CBA refers to the negotiated contract between a legitimate labor organization and the employer concerning wages, hours of work, and all other terms and conditions of employment. --Dexter Barro II