Extend service of gov’t contractual workers up to yearend, Duterte urged

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. (From Rodriguez’s FB page)

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker called on President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday to extend the service of contractual government employees up to yearend as the coronavirus crisis continues.

In a letter to Duterte, Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said contractual government employees are not covered by civil service law and do not enjoy the benefits of regular personnel.

Their contracts are also only good for six months, subject to renewal, the lawmaker added.

“With the current COVID-19 situation, the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and lockdowns happening all over the country, it is becoming clear that there is a very strong possibility that the contracts of these employees might not be renewed or extended,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez’s call stemmed from Workers of Government Movement in Cagayan de Oro City which asked for the lawmaker’s help in having the service of contractual personnel retained after the expiration of their contracts.

“As such, may I endorse their request for the contracts of these workers to be securely extended until Dec. 31, 2020. This will provide security to them in these uncertain times,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said government agencies have enough funds to cater for their contractual personnel.

Further, the lawmaker said national agencies can also seek Malacañang approval to use savings during the enhance community quarantine period to extend the service of these employees.

Citing data from the Civil Service Commission, Rodriguez said there are about 700,000 personnel who are under so-called job-order or contract-of-service arrangement.

Edited by JPV