PNR spox says regularization of agency’s workers may take 2 years

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Railways (PNR) Management Spokesperson Jo Geronimo on Wednesday explained that it would take two years to regularize its “job order” or contractual workers.

“Hindi nangyayari sa mabilis na panahon lang. It will take time kaya two years na binibigay para matapos para ma-implement yung end ng contractualization,” Geronimo told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.

This came after officials from PNR’s labor union complained that almost 1,400 workers do not have employment benefits and would sign contracts every two to three months.

READ: PNR union leader blasts contractualization of 1,400 railway workers

Geronimo then said the initial process in the workers’ regularization is to create a “rational decision program and organizational plan” which would be approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Civil Service Commission (CSC), among others.

“Create a committee a management to come up with a rational decision program, reorganizational plan to come up with yung structure, lalagyan ng corresponding position, salary grade. Papa-approvan pa sa Civil Service and sa DBM. ‘Pag okay na, isasalang mo na yung mga tao dun,” she said.

Geronimo also revealed that they are currently processing the reorganizational plan for respective departments as ordered by PNR Management General Manager Junn Magno.

“Pinagawa naman kami nun at pinagsubmit naman kami, as far as management is concern, to prepare and submit reorganizational plan,” she said.

She also disputed that there are only 1,286 contractual workers, noting that workers are receiving minimum wage of P512. /je