THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7 reports that more than 27,000 contractual workers became regular in 2018.

Engineer Vicente D. Abordo, chief of Dole 7 Technical Support Services Division-Labor Relations and Standards, said most of the workers were voluntarily regularized by companies at Mactan Economic Zone.

Abordo said the Dole central office had a target to have 300,000 contractual workers regularized in 2018, and 21,000 of that target was for Dole 7 to accomplish, which means Dole 7 exceeded the target by 6,000 workers.

Abordo said they sent letters to several companies urging them to regularize their workers, but many of them are challenging it.

On the other hand, Abordo said there are still contractors which are considered legitimate under the law, like those providing security guards and janitorial services to the different companies.

Abordo said these security guards and janitors from contract agencies are also enjoying the benefits of the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and PagIBIG Fund like regular workers.

“The only difference is the security of tenure,” Abordo said.

Abordo said they have not yet received a quota for 2019, but he is confident it will come during the coming directors’ meeting in Manila with Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. (EOB)