Study on impact of outsourcing by gov’t agencies, LGUs sought

CEBU, Philippines – The City Council is urging Congress and the Civil Service Commission to study the impact of reported practices of some government agencies and local government units in outsourcing personnel from private manpower agencies.

While outsourcing undeniably helps an agency reduce its operating cost, the Council expressed concerned that it has, to a certain extent, affected the work attitude of regular employees because it has triggered fears on the security of their employment.

Outsourcing, a growing practice among firms and companies, is a process of contracting a third party to procure services of products.

“Outsourcing is resorted to in order to cut labor cost and phase out redundant departments and line operations which in effect threatens the security of tenure even of its regular or permanent employees,” reads a resolution by Councilor Nida Cabrera.

“The government service, particularly as practiced by some LGUs, entrusts sensitive and delicate responsibilities to personnel hired through outsourcing provided by private companies such as the custody of prisoners and such other duties and functions that are supposedly performed only by accountable officers and employees in government service,” the resolution further says.

The Council believes that this practice is in contrast to Labor and Civil Service in the Philippine Constitution.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete said that as far as Cebu City is concerned, the city government is outsourcing only for jobs that are not so sensitive in nature like cleaners for City Hall and other areas in the city.

He, however, said that important positions or jobs are only entrusted to hired personnel either as casuals of permanent employees.

There is an ongoing discussion at City Hall to whether or not outsource garbage collectors for the Department of Public Services.

But Poblete said they are still studying the proposal carefully, as there are about 600 garbage collectors currently hired by the city as casual employees who would be affected by the planned outsourcing. (FREEMAN)