Angara calls for Philippine Labor Code amendments

Senator Edgardo J. Angara has sought the overhaul of the Labor Code so the country's labor rules can adopt to the dramatic changes brought about by technological strides and outsourcing, and the challenges brought about by globalization on the work place.

The phenomenon called the flattening of the world is essentially rooted in the manner by which jobs and services are contracted and outsourced. There are upheavals in the work place, in the way people work, the type of jobs our workers get, and even in their working hours. These have radically altered the employment landscape and they have to be considered in the changes to the Labor Code," said Angara.

Angara said that labor and employment rules cannot exist in a time warp, hence the need for the overhaul of the Labor Code.

Angara also said that the employment environment has been turned upside down by outsourced jobs that run on a 24 hour, seven day-a-week schedule, mostly employing hard-core of basic information technology skills.

More and more women work at night, a development fueled by business outsourcing, and the bulk of the OFWs are now women, Angara added.

"More people now work at home and on flexible schedules. The old standard of working eight hours a day for a working time of 40 hours a week is becoming obsolete," said Angara.

Angara said that the Labor Code can be overhauled without sacrificing the lofty principles of just compensation and the human component of labor.

Angara said that what has to be put in place is flexibility in working arrangements because this is what the present labor environment needs.

"Let us learn from what England did in terms of laying down the rules for labor flexibility. The rigid and unbending rules of the old no longer apply," said Angara.

Angara said it is also about time to review the awesome powers of the labor secretary.

Angara said that the changes in the labor rules can be carried out both administratively and via congressional amendments.

"We should waste no time in doing this. Labor rules have to be nimble, flexible and attuned to the times," he said.