MANILA, Philippines – Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III has instructed all DOLE Regional Directors to be more proactive in their approach to reduce “endo” practice by 50 percent in 2016 and its abolishment by 2017. “Ang commitment natin kay Pres. (Rodrigo) Duterte ay i-reduce ang “endo” o “555” by 50 percent in six months. And by 2017, it should be a thing of the past. Ito ang objective natin. You have to be proactive and take the necessary initiatives if we want to accomplish our task,” said Bello during the DOLE’s Consultation Workshop on Ending “Endo” at the Ichikawa Hall of the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City.
During the consultation workshop, the DOLE’s Regional Directors drafted a Regional Action Plan which will ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of workers’ right to security of tenure. The DOLE Regional Action Plan in Ending “Endo” is aimed at improving implementation rate of compliance orders; increasing the number of workers regularized; and raising the number of workers under legitimate contractual arrangements.
Included in the strategies under Regional Action Plan are joint assessment/ compliance visits; cancellation/denial of application and certificates of registration; engagement with stakeholders; enhancement of the labor law compliance system database; assistance to affected workers; development of a communication plan; and capacity building of concerned DOLE personnel.
“Endo” or “555” is a work arrangement whereby workers are only hired for only about five months without security of tenure and lack of, or inadequate monetary, non-monetary, and social protection benefits.
“It is very clear there are establishments which are violating the law. If the law will be implemented and there will be strict compliance, I don’t see any reason the objective of ending “endo” practice by 2017 will not be achieved,” said Secretary Bello. During the consultation workshop, Secretary Bello also directed the DOLE Regional Directors to ensure that the Department’s Labor Law Compliance Officers (LLCOs) are doing their tasks of inspecting all establishments, including contractors and subcontractors, in their regions.
“Do not wait for workers to file a complaint. You should take the initiative and make use of your inspectors. Siguraduhin ninyo na ang inspector ninyo ay nagi-inspect,” said Bello.
To reduce “endo” practice, Bello instructs DOLE RDs to be proactive
