Marcos extends term of gov’t workers under contracts of service, job orders

This photo, taken on April 5, 2022, shows a government worker sweeping the floor next to the turbines inside the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in the town of Morong in Bataan province. President Marcos now extends the engagement of contractual employees in government. (File photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended the engagement of contractual employees in government under the contract of service (COS) and job order (JO).

According to the Palace on Thursday, the decision came after the President held a sectoral meeting with the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Interior and Local Government, Civil Service Commission and Commission on Audit last Wednesday.

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“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has extended the engagement of contract of service and job order workers in government whose contracts will expire in December this year,” said the Presidential Communications Office in a statement.

The President also ordered a study of the current status of government workers, including those under COS and JO.

“Let us study it. Just look at the numbers, the data on average, government agencies… How many of their employees are contractual?” Marcos said in a mix of English and Filipino during the meeting.

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“How many items are in their plantilla proper are not filled? How many are contractual as a percentage of the total number of employees? Because the percentages are one of the most important. Then, we look at the average,” the President said.

“[It will] give us an idea [of] how people are using the system,” he explained.

COS are not plantilla positions, as they serve as private individuals or firms acting as consultants or service providers.

JOs are temporary or emergency jobs that are to be done during a set time.