Solon wants 14th month pay, cash gift for private firm, ‘endo’ workers

AFP FILE PHOTO

A party-list lawmaker said Thursday that private sector employees and contractual workers in government should not be left out now that government employees were due to receive their 14th month pay and P5,000 cash gift.

READ: Gov’t workers to get Christmas bonus, cash gift starting Nov 15

Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo has renewed his call for the government to extend its 14th month pay to “the 660,000 job order and contracts of service personnel in the government so that their Christmas can be bright as well.”

“Certainly, they deserve the 13th month and 14th month pays, not because of humanitarian reasons, but because like regular government employees they also perform public service delivery day in and day out in government offices,” Salo said in a statement.

The lawmaker filed House Bill No. 8095 or “An Act Mandating 14th Month Pay For All Employees In The Government And Private Sector Regardless Of Status Of Employment” last August 15, but the proposed measure has been pending before the House committee on labor and employment.

Salo said the Department of Labor and Employment could perhaps “find ways to relax or provide exemptions to some stringent administrative regulations for complying businesses” if employers in the private sector agree to provide the 14th month pay and yearend bonus.

“Basta gusto, may paraan. Hahanap tayo ng iba’t-ibang paraan para hindi mapag-iwanan ang mga empleyado sa pribadong sektor, kasama ang mga JOs (job orders) sa gobyerno,” he added.  /kga