Gov’t urged to extend service of 700K contractual personnel

In a letter sent to President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said these employees under a so-called job-order or contract-of-service arrangement do not enjoy the benefits of regular government personnel and their contracts are good for six months only, subject to renewal. (FIle Photo: Rufus B. Rodriguez/Facebook)

MANILA – A lawmaker is proposing to extend the service of around 700,000 contractual employees in the government until the end of 2020 amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis.

In a letter sent to President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said these employees under a so-called job-order or contract-of-service arrangement do not enjoy the benefits of regular government personnel and their contracts are good for six months only, subject to renewal.

“With the current Covid-19 situation, the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and lockdowns happening all over the country, it is becoming clear that there is a very strong possibility that the contracts of these employees might not be renewed or extended,” Rodriguez said.

He cited the plea of the Workers of Government Movement in Cagayan de Oro City in having the service of contractual personnel retained after the expiration of their contracts.

“As such, may I endorse their request for the contracts of these workers to be securely extended until Dec. 31, 2020. This will provide security to them in these uncertain times,” he said.

Rodriguez noted that government agencies have funds in their budgets for contractual personnel.

He said these government agencies can also seek Malacañang’s approval to use savings during the enhanced community quarantine period to extend the service of these employees.

Currently, the total number of positive cases nationwide is now at 6,599, with recoveries reaching 654 while the death toll is at 437.