MANILA–With around 832,000 job order and contract-of-service employees in government, senatorial candidate Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. on Monday vowed to push for legislation that will grant them gratuity pay and other incentives, aiming to boost their compensation and take-home pay if elected in 2025.
If elected, Abalos pledged to champion policies granting gratuity pay and incentives to all contract and job order workers in government.
Unlike regular government employees holding permanent, casual, temporary, co-terminus, and positions, job order and contract-of-service workers do not receive standard employment benefits, according to Abalos.
As former mayor of Mandaluyong, Abalos witnessed the struggles of JO employees, prompting him to prioritize legislation ensuring fair incentives. “Sa lokal na pamahalaan at pati national government, meron tayong tinatawag na mga regular employees, meron tayong mga casual, merong contractual at meron mga job order. Apat po yan. Pero pagdating sa benepisyo, minimum benefits, ang kawawa lalo na yung dalawa. Yung job order at government service contractors,” said Abalos. “Tuwing Pasko, naaawa ako sa mga JO. Kasi walang natatanggap. Alam mo yan, pati yung nasa contract-of-service, wala ring natatanggap,” Abalos said.
Citing data from the Department of Budget and Management, job order and contract of service employees make up 29.68% of the government workforce.
Over Around 580,000 work in the local government units and about 173,227 in various national government agencies. “Kaya kung minsan, sariling pera mo na lang ang ibinibigay para lang may karagdagang panghanda sa Pasko ang mga JO employees. Kasi kung hindi, lahat may bonus, pero sila uuwi nang wala,” Abalos lamented. Despite their significant contributions, they remain ineligible for bonuses and security of tenure unlike regular and casual employees due to regulations by the DBM and the Commission on Audit, Abalos lamented. “Pabayaan niyo, ‘yan ang unang-una kong gagawin – magsusumite ng batas para sa pagkakaloob ng gratuity at incentive pay para sa mga JO sa gobyerno. Para hindi na magkaroon ng problema pa kailangan magkaroon ng batas. Ksi kahit gusto ng mayor, kung walang pondo at hindi pinapayagan ng Commission on Audit at DBM, hindi sila pwedeng maglabas ng pondo baka mademanda pa siya,” he explained.
Among national agencies, the Department of Public Works and Highways employs the highest number of contract-of-service (COS) and job order (JO) workers at 29,275, followed by the Department of Health with 18,264, the Department of Education with 15,143, the Department of Social Welfare and Development with 13,770, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources with 10,990, Abalos said citing 2023 data from the DBM.
