Binay says contractualization is illegal

MANILA - Vice President Jejomar Binay warned companies on Sunday that terminating employees before the end of their six-month probation to prevent them from attaining regular status was against the law.

"Iyang endo bawal nga iyan e. Ang masama lang, hindi ipinatutupad. Ito yung endo ha, yung job only," he said.

Binay said government must ensure that the rights of all workers are protected regardless of their employment status.

"Sa lahat ng pagkakataon, ang manggawa ay dapat protektado lahat ng biyayang isinasaad ng ating batas," he said.

Under law, a worker who completes the six-month probationary period qualifies to be a regular employee, who is entitled to benefits like vacation and sick leaves, maternity leaves, social security, health insurance, and retirement benefits.

However, many companies deliberately skirt this regulation by limiting the duration of employment contracts for the lowliest paid workers to under six months.

This traps workers in a vicious cycle of "contractual" employment called "endo."