PCCI sees more regularization among members

By Richmond Mercurio (The Philippine Star), November 18, 2016

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business group, sees more regularization of workers in line with the administration’s drive to stop illegal contractualization.

“Many I think are doing it (regularizing employees) already. But against different yardsticks, you cannot say everybody should regularize. It depends on the industry. I heard people are doing it. There is an improvement, but many are still waiting for the Department of Labor and Employment pronouncement for it to be clear,” PCCI president George Barcelon said.

Barcelon said the PCCI shares the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines position preferring a stricter enforcement of the existing labor law instead of abolishing contractualization.

“We just need to follow the labor law, no need to tweak it. The DTI’s win-win solution is the same as the labor law, except they defined it,” he said.

Barcelon said a clear and conducive labor law is critical for the country to secure much needed foreign investments.

“Our labor law must be conducive for investors. That is the least they don’t have to be concerned about. How will they come in here if our labor law is not clear?” he said.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said local and foreign investors he had met recently have expressed concerns over the ongoing issue of contractualization in the country, with a number of firms indicating possibilities of closing local operations or not pursuing new investment plans should the labor system be banned.

Barcelon said the PCCI is hoping the government would come out with a final policy on the issue of contractualization by the end of the year.