A former PTV4 host has urged the government to end contractualization at the state network so that hundreds of its workers would have security of tenure and benefits during the pandemic.

Former PTV4 host Jules Guiang – who recently lost his job after a tweet criticizing the rejection of the ABS-CBN franchise renewal – made the appeal on social media posts on Monday, July 27.

“I urge the new PTV management to swiftly process the regularization of the network’s employees. I urge them to focus on the welfare of their employees in the middle of this pandemic. I urge them to treat their people with love, compassion, kindness, appreciation, and respect,” said Guiang, who himself was a contractual employee at the work for 8 years.

“Each of them has a story to tell, of contentment and even disappointment. Some of them, despite working for more than a decade have not been regularized. They are some of the 400+ contractuals who pray that their contracts would be renewed every 3, 6, or 12 months. Years without benefits. Years without job security,” he said.

Contractualization is a major issue under the Duterte administration since he promised to put an end to “endo.” He, however, later on flip-flopped and vetoed the bill.  

Endo or end of contract is the continuous renewal of a worker’s contract to circumvent the law that requires the regularization of workers after 6 months. Employers do this to cut cost by avoiding the payment of benefits due their employees as provided by the law.

‘Truth to power’

Guiang said that he had been consistent about making a stand on issues, even if he started working for a government station since 2012, under the previous administration.

“My being vocal has put me in trouble so many times, from speaking up against PNoy [former president Benigno Aquino III) about SAF (Special Action Force), being impassioned that ‘rape is not a joke,’ saying that Mocha Uson is a disaster, stood up against the Tulfos, and lately, speaking truth to power by blasting the hypocrisy of those 70 lawmakers who chose to deny ABS-CBN’s franchise – and cited that most of their workers weren’t regularized,” Guiang said.

“Para ito sa kalayaan nating maghayag. Para ito sa mga kontraktwal. Masakit man ang paraan ng aking pag-alis, walang hanggang pasasalamat, PTV (This is for our right to free speech. This is for the contractual workers. While it is painful leave this way, I am grateful to PTV),” he said.

In his earlier tweets during the House hearings on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, Guiang criticized lawmakers for castigating media the network for its contractualization of workers. (READ: House committee rejects franchise for ABS-CBN)

“Check government’s backyard, thousands aren’t regularized. Ex: I’m on my 8th year in PTV without benefits, no employer-employee status. Job orders are a thing in government & private sector,” he said on Twitter.

“We’re all for regularization, for a living wage, etc. I just find this argument hypocritical to be used against a network that is trying to renew their franchise. Maybe it’s a wake up call for the industry to treat their people fairly pero huwag naman ipitin ang Dos dahil dito (but don’t pin down ABS-CBN because of this),” he tweeted.

This was not the first time that PTV4 fired an employee deemed critical of the Duterte administration. In 2017, the network abruptly ended the contract of broadcaster Kathy San Gabriel.

Rappler sought Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar for comment and he referred us to PTV4 General Manager Katherine de Castro.

De Castro has yet to respond as of posting. We will update this page with her response once we receive it. – Rappler.com