President Rodrigo Duterte has already approved up to P10,000 service recognition incentive (SRI) for government employees, but not all of them are covered.
“The government continues to acknowledge all public servants for their collective and unceasing participation in and invaluable contribution to the establishment of streamlined government processes and responsive delivery of services to the public, especially amid the prevailing public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Employees who have rendered less than three months of service shall be entitled to a prorated share of the incentive.
“Those engaged without employer-employee relationship and whose compensation are funded from non-Personnel Services (PS) appropriations/budgets are excluded from the grant of the SRI,” said the order.
Rio Osila has been a utility worker in a government agency for 15 years, but until now, her contract is still renewed every six months.
And as a contract of service (COS), she also has no benefits.
Also read: DOH will no longer issue daily COVID-19 bulletin beginning Jan. 1
Gov’t employees who will not receive P10k incentive complain
Only regular, contractual, and casual employees with staff or approved positions in the government will receive the incentive.
The bonus excludes consultants and those hired by job order (JO) or COS.
According to the group Kawani Laban sa Kontraktuwalisasyon (KALAKON), it is disappointing that the government treats JO and COS workers differently.
“May problema talaga sa polisiya ang ating government kasi ‘yung government mismo sinasabi sa 1987 Constitution natin na dapat may security of tenure ‘yung mga manggagawa pero hindi naman napapatupad, hindi naman naipapatupad ng mismong gobyerno natin,” said Roxanne Fernandez, KALAKON spokesperson.
(Our government really has a problem with the policy because the government itself says in our 1987 Constitution that workers should have the security of tenure but it is not enforced, our own government is not enforcing it.)
According to the Department of Budget and Management, they have recommended incentives for JO and COS workers. However, the Office of the President is still studying whether there is a source of funding.
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