Two-year probation is anti labor – Sancho

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Labor leader Wennie Sancho, the labor sector representative to the Western Visayas Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), said he opposes the bill proposing a two-year probationary period for workers “because it threatens the worker’s security of tenure”.

“It will not take two years for a worker to learn. Besides, before one is accepted for a job, there is an interview, examinations, and the worker has an OJT (on-the-job training)… apprenticeship, so why make him wait for two years?” Sancho said.

“It is anti-labor and is against the dignity of workers. I was hoping the party-list behind the proposal would protect the interest of the marginal sector, including labor.  But it came out that Congressman Jose Singson Jr. is proposing a bill that would prolong the agony of the workers,” he added.

Sancho said the bill is “detrimental” to the workers.

“If that proposal will be further pushed, then we will campaign hard against it and we will file our manifestation or opposition,” he added.

“It’s good that Sec. Bello is rejecting it. It shows that Sec. Bello understood the plight of the workers. Why add more to the sacrifices of the laborers? We commend Sec. Bello for siding with the workers and for his statement against this proposal,” Sancho added.

Bello also said in a statement that the proposed measure might lead to more cases of illegal contractualization.

It also gives employers a two-year leeway not to grant workers the benefits due them because under the current laws, workers can only be placed under a probationary period of up to six months unless an apprenticeship agreement stipulates a longer time frame, and that workers are automatically regularized when they reach their sixth month of employment.