Contractualization Conundrum: Unravelling the Role of Elites in the Obstruction of Anti-Contractualization Bill in the Philippines

Abstract

Labor contractualization persists as a major labor rights issue in the Philippines, reinforced by systemic elitism. This study investigates how elite actors obstruct labor reforms, specifically targeting the Anti-Contractualization Bill. Using qualitative methods, including key informant interviews and focus group discussions, the study examines the influence of political and business elites in shaping labor policies. The findings reveal that elitism plays a foundational and strategic role in shaping and sustaining labor contractualization in the Philippines, with elites—particularly business owners and political dynasties—deliberately designing the system to suppress unionization, maximize profits, and maintain control, leveraging their entrenched power across legislative, executive, and judicial institutions, as well as through informal networks of patronage and political debt. The study concludes that elitism is not merely a background factor but a structural force that institutionalizes labor precarity and blocks pro-worker reforms.