VP Robredo vows end to labor contractualization

Robredo said her stance on workers’ rights has not changed since her days as a labor lawyer and as a lawmaker.

“Since congresswoman ako naging vocal ako on contractualization, saka strengthening ng security of tenure sa paniniwala na dapat ang manggagawa binibigyan siya ng seguridad na pag nagkaroon siya ng trabaho ay tuloy-tuloy ang trabaho,” Robredo explained.

She said the practice of “endo” is not right.

“Laganap kasi ang practice na ang employment hanggang 5 months lang, tapos papahingahin sila ng sandali tapos iha-hire na naman at a later time para nalulusutan ang required na pag-regularize… mali ito,” Robredo said.

The presidential aspirant made known her stand in a gathering of workers and officials of project development company Metro Stonerich Corporation.

She stressed worker’s rights to job security should be upheld.

At the same time, Robredo vowed to fill the gaps in the country’s COVID-19 response in her first 100 days in office if she becomes the next Philippine president, even as the pandemic lingers.

In a speech to the members of Rotary Club of Makati, Robredo said it is also important that elected leaders become accountable for the “sufferings and aspirations” of the Filipino people.

Robredo said as ABS-CBN reported how some health frontliners died amid the lack of personal protective equipment last year, and touted her office’s response to help students and workers affected by lockdowns.

“Reaching out, listening, and imagining ourselves in the shoes of the people we wish to serve. If we open our hearts to them and dig deep, we will arrive at the central revelation of our interconnectedness: Ganito pala ang hinihiling sa atin upang mabuhay sa mundo,” Robredo said.

“If we are fortunate to be elected President, we will inherit huge challenges and it will take great effort to rise to the challenges. We will continue to focus—at least in the first 100 days—on addressing the challenges of the pandemic,” she added.

These includes, according to Robredo, controlling the community transmission and making the public engaged in “rebuilding our broken nation” so nobody gets left behind.

This she said, is key in helping other aspects of the country recover, such as the economy and the labor sector.

“Aayusin muna natin ang bahay natin at ang paraan ng pamamahala. Nasa pagtutulungan ang susi ng pag-abot sa mga kolektibo nating hangarin: Mula sa pagbangon ng ekonomiya, pagdami ng mga trabaho sa iba’t ibang industriya, at pagbubukas ng marami pang opportunities para umasenso at guminhawa ang bawat Pilipino.”

(We will first fix our houses and the way it is being managed. Being united is key to reach our collective aspirations — from reviving the economy, bringing back jobs, and opening more opportunities to every Filipino)

Last week, Robredo, who has since emphasized the need for officials to go on the ground to get in touch with Filipinos during crises, unveiled her COVID-19 response plan that could free the nation from strict lockdowns and lapses in the country’s health care system.