SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – At least 10,212 contractual workers in 92 establishments in Central Luzon have been regularized, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday.

Ana Dione, DOLE regional director, said the 92 establishments are among the 268 that underwent consultation and assessment with the DOLE.

“We continue to rise to the challenges set by our labor secretary as part of the DOLE’s priority commitments to President Duterte to reduce illegal forms of contractualization, endo, labor-only contracting and other similar work arrangements by 50 percent this year and abolish it entirely by next year,” Dione said.

She said they have surpassed their target of 235 companies this year.

Various industries operating in the region’s free port and economic zones were covered by the consultations and assessments.

A total of 2,500 contractual workers in 20 firms were earlier regularized after consultations attended by 1,444 representatives from 648 establishments.

Dione urged more firms to regularize their contractual workers.