26 Apr 2024 – Marcos extends service of government contractual workers

Alexis Romero – The Philippine Star
April 26, 2024 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has extended the employment of contract of service and job order workers in government whose contracts will expire in December, and has directed agencies to help them find permanent posts.

Marcos decided to extend the employment of the non-regular government employees during a sectoral meeting with budget, interior, civil service and audit officials at Malacañang last Wednesday, the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement.

The deadline for the engagement of contract of service and job order workers in government was moved to Dec. 31, 2025 from Dec. 31, 2024.

Contract of service is defined as the engagement of the services of an individual, private firm, another government agency, non-government agency or international organization as a consultant, learning service provider or technical expert to undertake a special project or job within a specific period.

Job order, meanwhile, covers piece work, locally known as “pakyaw,” intermittent or emergency jobs to be undertaken for a short duration and for a specific piece of job.

According to budget department data, the government has 832,812 contracts of service and job order workers as of June 30, 2023, the Radio Television Malacañang said.

The number is higher by 22.90 percent from the 642,077 workers in the previous year.

Local governments have the highest number of such workers, accounting for 69.68 percent or 580,323, up from 487,149 in 2022. The number of contract of service and job order workers in state universities and colleges also grew from 22,937 in 2022 to 44,168 last year.

The national government, meanwhile, employs 173,227 casual workers.

The five national government agencies with the highest number of contract of service and job order workers are the Department of Public Works and Highways with 29,275; Department of Health with 18,264; Department of Education with 15,143; Department of Social Welfare and Development with 13,770; and Department of Environment and Natural Resources with 10,990.

Marcos ordered agencies to develop the skills and capabilities of the non-regular government workers and to reeducate and train them with the help of higher learning institutions so they would be qualified for permanent positions.

He gave the directive after learning that while there are thousands of vacant plantilla posts in government, they cannot be filled by contract of service and job order workers because they are not eligible.

Recognizing the job experience of contract of service and job order workers, many of whom have been in government for many years, Marcos said the non-regular workers should be assisted to obtain the required qualifications so they could enjoy the benefits of those in permanent positions.

Marcos also instructed agencies to conduct a thorough study of the current state of the government workforce.