Alternative work arrangements for gov’t workers still in effect

FILE: Civil Service Commission (CSC) Commissioner Aileen Lourdes Lizada on September 12, 2019 at the Diego Silang Hall of the Provincial Capitol in San Fernando City, La Union. (RAV/PIA 1)

MANILA – Civil Service Commission (CSC) Commissioner Aileen Lizada clarified Tuesday that the implementation of alternative work arrangements for government employees remains in effect despite the country adopting more relaxed quarantine restrictions.

Lizada’s comment comes in the wake of reports the agency received from its regional offices that some government agencies and local government units (LGU) are requiring all their employees to report for work.

“We’re still applying Memorandum Circular Number 10, alternative work arrangements pa rin natin yung five na work from home, skeleton workforce, four-day workweek, staggered working hours, and other alternative work arrangements. Ito po yung binibigay natin during this time of ECQ to MECQ, GCQ, to MGCQ, ito pa rin yung in place (this is what we recommend during this time of ECQ to MECQ, GCQ to MGCQ, this is still in place),” Lizada said.

She said the CSC does not require 100-percent presence of staff in the government offices, especially workers belonging to the vulnerable sector.

“Ang kinakailangan lamang full operational yung ating mga opisina (we only need our offices to be fully operational) but do not let all the employees report for work especially yung mga nasa (those in the) vulnerable sectors natin yung (like) pregnant women, senior citizens or those with comorbidities or other health risks, yun yung dapat hindi natin pinapa report for work (we should not ask them to report for work),” she said.

The CSC, she said, through its regional offices, has so far received around 28 complaints from five regions.

According to Lizada, the most common complaint is the lack of transportation and the difficulty in moving from one province to another, as different border checkpoints ask for different requirements like travel pass and medical certificates.

She said they also received a complaint wherein an employee doing maintenance work was asked for an accomplishment report.

Having failed to submit because they did not report for work during the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine, she said the duration of the employee’s homestay was charged to his leave credits.

Another complaint came from an employee who was late for a virtual meeting because of weak internet signal but was deducted half-day of her salary.

“Hindi kasalanan ng maintenance na pina-stop yung trabaho nila sa opsina (it is not the fault of the maintenance staff that they were asked to stop work). You do not fault them for something that they were not liable for,” she said.

Lizada said salary should be continuous and leave credits should not be charged.

“So ito yung mga kinakailangan natin i-clarify kasi this is something new sa atin sa gobyerno. Hindi tayo sanay sa ganitong new normal (we need to clarify this as we are not used to this new normal). Please, (do) not be too strict, and let us be lenient and understanding. Siguro you can give better guidance, hanap ng better signal sa house but do not kaagad impose na half day na tinanggalan mo ng sweldo yung tao kasi na late sya sa virtual meeting niya, hindi naman siguro proper (maybe what we can do is give them proper guidance, look for a better signal, and not immediately deduct half day of her salary, that is not proper),” she said.

Covid-19 tests

Meanwhile, she said LGUs requiring their workers for a rapid test should be the ones shouldering the expenses and not the employee.

She also encouraged those who experience flu-like symptoms not to report for work, undergo a medical checkup, and get a medical certificate stating that they are fit to return to work.

“Pag kayo ay PUM or PUI, you do not worry kasi baka akala nyo yung 14 days quarantine ay tatanggalin sa inyong sick leave hindi po (if you are a person under monitoring or a person under investigation, do not worry that the 14-day quarantine will be deducted from your sick leave), we will consider this as an excused leave,” she said.

Lizada said the CSC has also released Memorandum Circular No. 8 providing revised interim guidelines on the use of leave credits for absences due to quarantine and/or treatment relative to the coronavirus disease.

The CSC will now be calling the attention of concerned government agencies to correct them and give proper guidance.

“Ngayon kung di sila gagawa despite the instruction, reminder or guidance, iba na yun (if they continue not to follow the guideline despite the reminders) then we will consult our regional offices and see what can be done within legal parameters,” said Lizada

Government workers who want to file a complaint may contact the CSC through their social media platforms.

Lizada reminded heads of government agencies to consult the CSC if they have questions on the guidelines.

“In case of doubt magtanong ho tayo, rather than make a decision na yung hirap na nga ang tao ngayon, tapos takot pa because of the threat of the Covid-19 (In case of doubt, ask, rather than make a decision especially at this time when everyone is having a difficult time and fear of Covid-19). If you have questions you can ask the CSC through all the social media platforms available. And the regional offices will promptly answer each and every concern of the employee,” she said.

CSC examination

Meanwhile, Lizada said the CSC will be restructuring the pen and paper test for the Career Service Examinations.

She said the CSC Examination, Recruitment and Placement Office (ERPO) is now studying how to conduct the pen and paper test and strengthen the computerized examinations which are regularly held monthly.

Normally, Lizada said, around 250,000 examinees nationwide are taking their tests which are regularly scheduled.

“Inaayos na yung guidelines (we are now preparing the guidelines) and we will be coming out soon what will now happen to the pen and paper test para yung mga naka schedule nung March 15 and the one scheduled on August 9 will be suspended as well. So we are restructuring the pen and paper test. Ayusin natin kung dati 25 in one classroom baka 15 na lang. Matutuloy yan we’re doing our best to come up with the guideline since its not feasible at the moment,” Lizada said.