Rizal 4th district Rep. Fidel Nograles (PPAB)

House Committee on Labor and Employment chairman Rep. Fidel Nograles expressed his appreciation to President Marcos for extending the engagement of contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) workers in the government.

"Napakaagang pamasko ito para sa ating mga COS at JO sa pamahalaan. Marami-raming mga kababayan natin ang makikinabang sa direktibang ito,” said Nograles.

(It's an early Christmas gift for our COS and JO workers in government. Many of our countrymen will benefit from this directive.)

In a statement on Sunday, April 28, Nograles noted that the contracts were originally set to expire on Dec. 31 this year.

“Ngayon, makapagtatrabaho sila nang walang pangamba na pagkatapos ng taon ay mawawalan sila ng kabuhayan," he noted.

(Now, they can work without the fear that they will lose their livelihoods at the end of the year.)

Based on a 2023 report, President Marcos’ move is set to benefit around 832,812 COS and JO employees, who comprise 29.68 percent of the government workforce.

Nograles, who represents the fourth district of Rizal, says he is also in full support of the President’s order for government agencies to help develop the skills and capabilities of COS and JO workers by re-educating and training them.

This will be done with the cooperation of higher learning institutions, which will help enable the workers to pass the civil service examination, he said.

"Of course, we want our civil service to be composed of competent people who are able to fulfill the unique demands of public service,” said Nograles.

"Kung mabibigyan ng karampatang training ang ating mga JO at COS, mabibigyan sila ng pagkakataon na makuha ang mga plantilla positions na nahihirapan rin tayong punuin," he added.

(If our JOs and COS can be given competent training, they will be given the opportunity to get the plantilla positions that we also have difficulty filling.)

Nograles said allowing COS and JO workers to attain plantilla positions would “eliminate their precarious situation”.

With this, the lawmaker said the workers would be entitled to various benefits not otherwise granted to temporary employees such as insurance and leave benefits.

A COS refers to the engagement of the services of an individual, private firm, other government agency, non-government agency, or international organization as a consultant, learning service provider, or technical expert to undertake a special project or job within a specific period.

JO, on the other hand, refers to piece-work (colloquially known as pakyaw), intermittent or emergency jobs to be undertaken for a short duration and for a specific piece of job.