Gov’t JO staff, contractuals get extra cash for holidays
It’s now the turn of contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) workers in the government to look forward to receiving extra cash for the Christmas holidays.
President Marcos on Thursday signed Administrative Order No. 28 authorizing the grant of P7,000 gratuity pay for COS and JO workers in national government agencies, state universities and colleges, government-owned or -controlled corporations, and local water districts. The one-time gratuity pay represents an increase of P2,000 from the previous rate of P5,000.
AO 28 states that this is in recognition of the hard work and contributions of COS and JO workers to the government.
“Granting a year-end gratuity pay to COS and JO workers is a well-deserved recognition of their hard work and valuable participation in the implementation of programs, activities, and projects of the government, and their pivotal role in the delivery of government services amidst the present socioeconomic challenges,” it said.
The President issued the directive on Dec. 19 and it was published on the Official Gazette’s website on Friday.
Fifth year
Under AO 28, COS and JO workers who rendered at least four months of satisfactory performance as of Dec. 15 and whose contracts are still in effect will be given a one-time gratuity pay not exceeding P7,000.
Those workers who have rendered less than four months of satisfactory performance as of Dec. 15 may also be granted a one-time gratuity pay on a prorated basis.
Those who have worked for three months but less than four months will receive a gratuity pay not exceeding P6,000, while those who have rendered two months but less than three months will get an amount not exceeding P5,000. Meanwhile, those who worked for less than two months will receive a gratuity pay not exceeding P4,000.
The payment of the gratuity to the qualified workers should be made no earlier than Dec. 15.
The issuance of AO 28 marks the fifth year that the government granted the one-time gratuity pay to its COS and JO workers. The first time was in 2017, followed by similar incentives from 2020 to 2023. In 2021, the Palace authorized an increase from P3,000 to P5,000.
COS and JO workers, like permanent government employees, are paid equivalent salaries plus a premium of up to 20 percent of their wage.
Service recognition incentive
However, they do not enjoy benefits that permanent government employees have such as midyear and end-year bonuses, performance-based bonuses, and personnel economic relief allowances.
The grant of gratuity pay to COS and JO workers came a week after the President issued Administrative Order No. 27 that authorized the payment of a P20,000 service recognition incentive (SRI) to government employees and military and uniformed personnel.
This year’s one-time, uniform SRI is for government employees in the executive branch occupying regular, contractual or casual positions, such as those working in national government agencies, state universities and colleges (SUCs), and government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs).
Mr. Marcos also authorized both chambers of Congress, the judiciary, the Office of the Ombudsman, constitutional offices with fiscal autonomy, and local government units to grant a one-time, uniform SRI not exceeding P20,000 to their respective personnel.
AO 28 tasked government agencies, SUCs, GOCCs and LWDs to charge the gratuity pay against the available funds in their maintenance and other operating expenses budget or corporate operating budgets.
Government agencies and SUCs that wish to use their savings for this are required to submit a request to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) within five days. The request will then be endorsed to the Office of the President. Once approved, the DBM will release a special allotment release order and notice of cash allocation.
Mr. Marcos also encouraged local government units to grant gratuity pay to their COS and JO workers by enacting a corresponding supplemental budget using available funds from their available appropriations. —WITH A REPORT FROM PNA
