Malacañang on Sunday made an assurance that President Duterte will veto any bill that will run counter to his anti-contractualization stance, such as the bill extending the probationary period for workers to two years, from the current six months.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said in a radio interview that the Palace agrees with the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) pronouncement that the extension of the probationary period is unnecessary.
“I agree with [Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello]. Because we are precisely against the circumvention that employers are doing with the current six-month probation period, and you want to extend it,” Panelo said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Sought for an assurance the Duterte will veto the proposed measure, Panelo said the President has maintained a clear-cut policy that he wants to end contractualization in the country.
“You don’t need an assurance. That’s the policy of the President. You don’t even need an assurance from me. He will veto whatever law that will go against his policy pronouncements,” he said.
Probinsyano Ako Party-list Rep. Jose Singson Jr. filed House Bill 4802 proposing that the current maximum six-month probationary period is not enough time for the employer to determine if the probationary employee is qualified for regular employment.
Singson said employers are left with no recourse but to end the probationary employment even if they are still in the process of evaluating the employee to avoid automatic regularization of an unqualified employee in their work force.
Last Saturday, Bello opposed HB 4802 arguing that six months is enough to determine an employee’s qualification for a job position.
Worse, Bello pointed out that it is against the administration’s position and policy on security of tenure.
“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,” he said in a statement.
“Delaying a worker’s assurance of permanent employment is no longer in keeping with the administration’s policy on security of tenure,” he added.
Under the Labor Code, probationary employment should not exceed six months from the date the employee started working, unless it is covered by an apprenticeship agreement stipulating a longer period.