Senator Ramon ‘’Bong’’ Revilla, has filed a bill seeking to provide government contractual workers with a 13th month pay.

The "13th month pay" is a monetary benefit equivalent to one month basic compensation received by an employee, computed pro-rata given to all regular employees pursuant to Presidential Decree 851, S. 1975 and the Labor Code of the Philippines.

“Nalalapit na ang Pasko pero marami tayong mga masisipag na empleyado na hindi makakatanggap ng 13th month pay (Christmas is approaching. But many hard-working employees have not received their 13th month pay). Yung mga kasamahan nating contractuals at job orders sa gobyerno, walang matatanggap, eh kapwa din naman silang mga lingkod-bayan (Although they are part of the government work force, contractuals and job orders will not get their 13th pay),” the veteran lawmaker lamented.

Senate Bill No. 1621 will make those serving the government under the contract-of-service scheme or job order arrangement who do not usually receive other benefits and allowances accorded to regular government employees eligible for the benefit.

Revilla, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, said that government’s contractual workers play a vital role in the delivery of public service to the people.

"Ang trabaho nila ay kasing bigat ng trabaho ng mga regular (The weight of their job is the same as the regulars). Walang duda, sila rin ay kasing sipag ng ibang kawani ng gobyerno (There is no doubt that they are as hardworking as the other government workers). Kaya nararapat lamang na bigyan rin natin sila ng benepisyo na natatanggap ng mga regular employees (It is but right that we give them benefits that regular employees receive),” the solon said.

According to the Inventory of Government Human Resources as of June 30, 2022, there are a total of 2,462,534 workers in the government, and 642,077 or roughly 26 percent of the total government workforce is comprised of Job Order and Contract of Service (JOCOS) personnel.

#13th month pay

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