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Southeast Asia confronts big business over short-term hiring

Philippines issues list of top employers including Jollibee and PLDT

The Philippines' labor department has ordered Jollibee Foods to convert more than 6,000 workers on short-term contracts to permanent staff.
The Philippine labor department has ordered Jollibee Foods to convert more than 6,000 workers on short-term contracts to permanent staff.   © Reuters

MANILA -- The Philippines has joined the ranks of Southeast Asian countries rethinking their labor laws and practices to bolster worker protections, taking on big businesses accused of abusing short-term contracts to skimp on benefits.

Philippine labor law requires that workers be made permanent employees after a six-month probationary period. But many companies -- particularly restaurants, retailers and manufacturers -- dodge this rule by firing workers after five months and hiring new staff.

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