The additional ₱2,000 gratuity pay this December for government employees under the Job Order and Contract of Service (JO/COs) arrangement is insufficient and falls short of what they have demanded. Administrative Order 28 (AO28) will only grant them up to ₱7,000. The order does not cover JO/COs under local governments.

According to the Confederation for Unity, Advancement, and Recognition of Government Employees (Courage), the increase “falls significantly short of our demand for a one-month salary gratuity pay.” The employees union emphasized that this compensation is a fundamental right for all JO/COs workers contributing to the government’s essential functions.

The nearly one million government JO/COs workers who serve as the backbone of the administration’s public service deserve to receive equitable compensation. “A one-month salary gratuity pay is not merely a matter of financial compensation, it is a recognition of their crucial role and a commitment to their well-being,” Courage secretary general Manuel Baclagon said.

According to the order, only employees of the national government, state universities, and government-run corporations and companies will receive gratuity pay. Meanwhile, local government units (LGUs) are left to decide on providing similar compensation to their employees.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) denounced AO28, calling it “not fair” because it does not cover the gratuity pay of JO/COS in LGUs. “They also serve the people, they should also receive this benefit. We strongly urge the administration to extend this benefit regardless of their assignment,” ACT added.

Courage emphasized that while they acknowledge the increase in gratuity pay as a result of employees’ persistent demands, they continue to strongly call for the government to abolish the JO/COs system. The group also warned that this should not be a hindrance to the ultimate goal to completely eradicate contractualization.

“We demand the immediate passage of a legislation that pushes for the regularization of JO/COS employee nationwide,” Baclagon stated. He added that regularization will not only guarantee fair compensation and benefits but also enhanced job security, improved morale, and ultimately lead to a more efficient and effective public service.

There are approximately 832,812 government JOCOS workers, according to 2023 reports. They comprise almost 29.68% of the civil bureaucracy’s workforce. The five main agencies with the most JOCOS employees are the Department of Public Works and Highways (29,275 employees), Department of Health (18,264), Department of Education (15,143), Department of Social Welfare and Development (13,770), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (10,990).