Marcos OKs yearend gratuity pay for contract of service, job order workers in government

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attends the Oath-Taking Ceremony of the Newly Promoted Generals and Flag Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at the Ceremonial Hall inside Malacañan Palace on December 4, 2024. Santi San Juan, PPA pool

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has granted a yearend gratuity pay of up to P7,000 to Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) workers in the government. 

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This, after Marcos issued Administrative Order 28 on Thursday, which grants a one-time gratuity pay not exceeding P7,000 for fiscal year 2024 for JOs and COS employees who have rendered a total or aggregate of at least four months of "actual satisfactory service performance" as of December 15.

“Granting a year-end gratuity pay to COS and JO workers is a well-deserved recognition of their hard work and valuable participation in the implementation of various PAPs (programs, activities and projects) of the government, and their pivotal role in the delivery of government services amidst the present socio-economic challenges,” Marcos said.

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Meanwhile, workers who have rendered less than 4 months of service may also be granted a gratuity pay on a pro-rata basis. 

COS/JO workers with three months, but less than four months of service, may receive gratuity pay not exceeding P6,000. Those with two months, but less than three months of service, may receive gratuity pay not exceeding P5,000. 

Meanwhile, workers with less than two months may receive gratuity pay not exceeding P4,000.

The AO states that the payment of gratuity pay to qualified COS and JO workers shall be made not earlier than December 15, 2024.

The government defines Contract of Services/Job Orders as employees whose services rendered are not considered government services and do not enjoy the benefits enjoyed by government employees. The job order covers piece work or intermittent job of short duration not exceeding six months on a daily basis. 

Of the more than two million government workers, over 1.8 million are career employees and around 193,000 are either coterminous, casual, or contractual workers.

More than 203,000 positions in the government are still unfilled, according to the Civil Service Commission in August this year.

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