Labor Sec. Bello rejects 2yr probationary period for workers

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III slammed the proposal extending the worker’s probationary period from six months to two years.

This comes after a measure has been filed at the House of Representatives seeking to lengthen the maximum prescribed period of probationary employment.

Probinsyano Ako party-list Representative Jose “Bonito” Singson Jr. clarified that the six-month probationary employment period prescribed under the Labor Code is not enough for employers to assess whether an employee is qualified especially in positions requiring specialized skills and talents.

This, he said, therefore “limits the right of the employer to secure quality employees.”

At the same time, extending the probationary employment period will allow employees to prove their value to the employer, especially their skills, talents and other qualifications needed for them to be regularized, Singson said.

On the contrary, Secretary Bello rejected the measure saying it will deny the workers’ right to security of tenure.

“I don’t think it’s necessary for a worker to undergo a probationary period of two years for an employer to determine his qualification. Six months is enough,” Bello said.

The labor chief said two years probationary period is too long for a worker to secure permanent employment, against the administration’s policy of providing job security.

“Delaying a worker’s assurance of permanent employment is no longer in keeping with the administration’s policy on security of tenure,” Bello said.

He also said that the proposal might encourage the illegal practice of contractualization, such as the practice of “endo”, as employers can terminate the workers within two years, which limits a workers’ right to statutory benefits as a regular employee.

Source: dole.gov.ph / Gma News

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