Government contractual workers to get pay hike

MANILA, Philippines — The government is set to increase the pay of contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) workers effective Jan. 1, 2019, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said yesterday.

The increase is based on Joint Circular No. 1, series 2018 issued by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Commission on Audit and DBM, amending JC No. 1, s. 2017 or the rules and regulations governing COS and JO workers in government.

Under the new rules, salaries or wages of COS and JO workers should be equal to the salaries and wages of equivalent positions in government.

COS and JO workers will also receive a premium of 20 percent of their salary starting next year.

“The premium payment may be paid monthly, in lump sum or in tranches (i.e. midyear and yearend payments) as may be stated in the agreement or contract with the agency,” the order stated.

The payment of their services will be charged against the maintenance and other operating expenses fund in the approved agency budget.

Meanwhile, the new JC also extends the transitory period for JC No. 1, s. 2017 to Dec. 31, 2020 from the previous deadline of Dec. 31, 2018 to ensure the delivery of public services.

This allows agencies to engage the services of new COS and JO workers through individual contract and renew existing individual contracts until the end of 2020.

“COS and JOs are extended until Dec. 31, (2020) which is the transitory period. After the transitory period, JC No. 1, s. 2017 will take effect, which provides that COS should only be consultants and involved in highly technical (work),” the DBM said.

JC No. 1 s. 2017 provides that hiring under COS should be limited to consultants, learning service providers and/or other technical experts to undertake special projects or jobs within a specific period.

It must be done on the condition that the project or job is not part of the regular functions of the agency, the expertise is not available in the agency or it is impractical or more expensive for the government to directly undertake the service.