OFW
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III
Credit: Philip Ortaleza
DOLE renews push
for passage of
Security of Tenure
bill
T
he labor department has
renewed its push for the
passage of the Security of
Tenure Bill now pending
approval at the Senate.
“This is among our priority
legislative measures that has
been certified as urgent by the
President. We are optimistic that the Senate
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will pass it in due time,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.
Bello also called on all concerned DOLE offices to provide
technical assistance as the Senate hammers out its version of the
measure.
The Security of Tenure Bill, otherwise known as House Bill No.
6908 and Senate Committee Report No. 392, aims to amend the
Labor Code on the prohibition of labor-only contracting and other
provisions that allow contracting arrangements.
The amendment will also clearly define the nature of work and
activities that may be contracted out.
Under the proposed law, all employees, except those under
probationary employment, are deemed regular, including project
and seasonal employees.
In project and seasonal employment, workers are called to work
from time to time and temporarily laid-off during the completion of
the project or off-season, but are in the work pool on leave with or
without pay status in between projects or seasons.
Also under the legislative measure, a transition support program
for job contracting shall be established by the DOLE.
Through the program, a three-month financial support shall be
provided for employees in between job periods and is conditioned
on undergoing skills training or upgrading under the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority or accredited training
institutions during the period of unemployment. www.dole.gov.ph