House passes bill granting night shift differential pay to gov’t employees

A local government employee disinfects a residential area in Tarlac City. (Photo from the Tarlac City information office)

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives approved Monday a bill seeking to grant night shift differential pay to government employees, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs).

With 225 affirmative votes, no negative, and no abstention, the lower chamber approved House Bill No. 9459 on final reading.

Under the measure, government employees occupying position items from Division Chief and below, or their equivalent, including those in GOCCs, shall be paid night shift differential at a rate not exceeding 20 percent of the hourly basic rate of the employee for each hour of work performed between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following day.

The measure covers permanent, contractual, temporary, and casual employees.

The night shift differential pay shall be in addition to and shall not in any way diminish the benefits and allowances presently enjoyed by government employees, the bill states.

Government employees not covered by the measure include public health workers who are already covered by the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, government employees whose schedule of office hours fall between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., and government employees whose services may be required any time within 24 hours such as uniformed personnel.

EDV