Regularization of gov’t contractual workers pushed

ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro. (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro on Tuesday called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to end contractualization and regularize contractual government workers who have been serving for years.

Castro noted that over 500,000 out of some 2.3 million government employees have remained contractual workers.

“Most contractual workers of the government have been in service for years. It is only right to regularize these workers,” Castro said.

As of Aug. 31, 2021, she said there were 582,378 contracts of service or job order personnel out of the 2,337,802 government employees, government data showed.

Agencies with the most number of contractual workers include the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Health, Education, Environment and Natural Resources, and Social Welfare and Development.

Castro lamented that contractualization among government workers has grown more widespread.

“How could we expect private companies to end the practice of endo (end of contract) if the government itself takes part in the practice?” she asked.

—JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE

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