ACT: Include LGU contractual workers in gratuity pay

December 23, 2024 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) is urging the national government to include job order and contractual workers in local government units (LGUs) in the P7,000 gratuity pay that President Marcos had earlier approved to recognize their contributions to public service.

The ACT welcomed Marcos’ approval of the P7,000 gratuity pay for job order and contractual workers in national government agencies, but said it found the exclusion of JOs and contract workers in LGUs “unjust” as they made similar contributions to public service.

“It is not fair to exclude our colleagues from LGUs. They also serve the people, they should also receive this benefit. We strongly urge the administration to extend this benefit to all JO and COS (contract of service) workers regardless of their assignment,” the group said.

Marcos had earlier raised to P7,000 from P5,000 the gratuity pay of COS and JO workers who have rendered a total or aggregate of at least four months of actual satisfactory service performance as of Dec. 15.

The last gratuity pay increase was in 2021, when it rose from P3,000 to P5,000, according to the Department of Budget and Management.

The ACT, however, said the gratuity pay should not distract the public from the government’s refusal to improve the working and living conditions of government workers by scrapping the contract hiring practices and provide security of tenure to all employees.

“Our basic position remains unchanged: regularize all JO and COS workers. Our principle is simple: equal pay for equal work. These workers perform regular functions and should therefore be granted regular positions with full benefits and security of tenure,” ACT Teachers president Antonio Tinio said.

“The gratuity pay is a step forward, but it’s just a band-aid solution. What we need is genuine security of tenure through regularization. Government service should not be contractual,” Tinio added.

Employees who rendered less than four months of satisfactory service as of Dec. 15 may still receive this year’s gratuity pay on a pro-rata basis, based on Administrative Order 28 signed on Dec. 19 by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

Contractual workers with three months of service may receive gratuity pay not exceeding P6,000, while those with two months may receive gratuity pay not exceeding P5,000.

Workers with less than two months of service may receive gratuity pay not exceeding P4,000.