By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved an increase in gratuity pay for Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) workers in the government from P5,000 in 2023 to P7,000 for the fiscal year 2024.
According to the four-page Administrative Order No. 28 series of 2024 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, COS and JO employees who have rendered a total or aggregate of at least four months of actual satisfactory service performance as of Dec. 15 and whose contracts remain effective as of the same date, are entitled to the full gratuity pay.
“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,” the President said in the Order.
Meanwhile, those who rendered less than four months of satisfactory service as of Dec. 15 may still receive their gratuity pay on a “pro-rata basis” between P4,000 to P6,000.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman expressed her gratitude to the President for authorizing the increase in gratuity pay since the last increase happened in 2021 when it was raised from P3,000 to P5,000.
“Malaking bagay po ito. Isa po sa isinaalang-alang natin dito ’yong pagtulong sa ating mga manggagawa, lalo’t magpa-Pasko po at sunod-sunod ’yong nangyaring kalamidad sa bansa ngayong taon,” the budget chief said in a statement.
“Hindi po natin pababayaan ang ating mga COS at JO personnel dahil malaki rin po ang ambag nila sa ating bansa. Hindi po matatawaran ang serbisyo nila sa publiko. Ayaw po natin na maging empty-handed sila ngayong Pasko at Bagong Taon,” Pangandaman added.
The administrative order will take effect immediately following its complete publication in the Official Gazette, or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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