400 Eastern Visayas workers benefit from 'endo' drive

TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 31 (PNA) -- At least 400 workers in Eastern Visayas have been regularized after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) launched a campaign to stop the practice of "endo."

DOLE Regional Director Elias Cayanong said the region is on track in addressing "endo" (short for end of contract) in the region since the DOLE stepped up efforts last month.

Cayanong said the labor department got the report through monitoring from labor laws compliance officers deployed to inspect establishments.

Among the firms who responded to the call to end the "endo" practice are hardwares, retail shops, hotels, and restaurants.

“There are more reports of voluntary regularization, but we have to validate it first,” Cayanong said.

The labor department aims to regularize 50 percent of workers suffering illegal labor

contractualization by the end of 2016 and completely eliminate the practice next year.

"I believe the target is realistic since we are just talking about endo. There are contractors that comply with the law such as those implementing project-based activities," he added.

The DOLE has adopted two tracks in eliminating illegitimate contractualization, including labor-only contracting and "endo".

In the first track, the DOLE regional offices conducted series of consultations and meetings to encourage employers to voluntarily regularize workers who are under "endo" and labor-only contracting arrangements.

For the second track, labor laws compliance officers inspected establishments, principals, and contractors which are practicing "endo" and labor-only contracting arrangements.

Cayanong explained that those found to be engaged in labor-only contracting are subjected to mandatory conferences to assist them in their compliance with labor standards

The abolition of "endo" practice by 2017 is included in the eight-point labor and employment agenda of Secretary Silvestre Bello III. (PNA)

JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO