Duterte grants 12,000 gratuity pay to non-regular state workers

President Duterte has signed an administrative order (AO), which entitles all non-regular government employees a 12,000 year-end gratuity pay for their dedicated service to the Filipino people, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced yesterday.

The AO, signed by President Duterte last January 31, covers all employees under job order, contract of service, project-based, and memorandum of agreement status in all national government agencies, state universities and colleges, government-owned and -controlled corporations, and government financial institutions.

Those who have rendered at least four months of satisfactory services as of December 15, 2016 are entitled to the one-time 12,000 gratuity pay, while those who have been employed for less than four months may still receive 11,000.

Funds needed to implement the cash benefit shall be charged against the available maintenance and other operating expenses of the concerned government agencies and institutions. In case this is not enough, additional funding may be requested from the Department of Budget and Management.

Local government units are also encouraged to adopt the same for employees under job order and contract of service agreements in their respective offices using appropriate and available funding services.

The AO was issued upon the recommendation of Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo who would like to give better recognition for the significant contributions of these contractual workers in government.