Nograles hails 3rd reading OK of bill reducing CBA term to 3 years
THE chair of the House committee on labor and employment has thanked Congress for passing a bill reducing the duration and validity of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in terms of its representation to three years from five years.
“We thank our colleagues in the House of Representative for recognizing the need to reduce the term of CBA representatives from five to three years. This is a seemingly simple revision to the current law that would redound to the benefit of employees,” Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles said.
The Lower House approved House Bill (HB) No. 9320 on third and final reading on Wednesday, with 210 affirmative votes, and zero negative votes and abstentions.
The bill seeks to amend Article 265 of Presidential Decree No. 442 or the Philippine Labor Code, which sets the representation term at five years.
The bill also provides that all provisions of the CBA will remain in full force and effect during the effectivity of the agreement, which would then be renegotiated not later than three years after its execution.
Nograles, the bill’s sponsor, highlighted that the measure is crucial in ensuring accountability on the part of CBA representatives.
“Five years is too long if the chosen representative turns out to be ineffective and does not represent the best interests of the workers,” the lawmaker said.
“Sa pagpapaiksi ng termino ng CBA representation, magkakaroon ng sapat na pagkakataon ang mga empleyado hindi lang ng kanilang representante, kundi pati na rin sa pagtaguyod ng kanilang karapatan na pumasok sa negosasyon tungkol sa iba’t ibang isyu na nakakabit sa kanilang trabaho,” he added.
A CBA refers to a negotiated contract between an employer and a legitimate labor union regarding wages, hours of work, and all other terms and conditions of employment.
