(Eagle News)—President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, May 2, said the signing of an executive order that addresses illegal contracting and subcontracting was the best he could do within the bounds of the law.
Speaking during the distribution of land titles to farmers in Quezon, President Duterte said this was because the Labor Code allows for some forms of contractualization.
Militant labor groups have called for a ban on all forms of contractualization.
The power to amend the law, the President said, was only given to Congress.
“I cannot say that ‘if you do not do this, if you do this then you will be liable and sentenced to ganun.’ Wala ‘yan because I cannot have that power,” Duterte, a former prosecutor, said.
“You know, you’re asking me to violate the law. Eh kung ma-impeach ako, sinong magbigay ng trabaho sa akin?” he added.
President Duterte signed the EO that also strengthens the rights of workers to security of tenure, on May 1.