13Th Month Pay Law for Contractual and Job Order Personnel

• Offer of t TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL 15 P2:10 RECENTDA SENATE s. No. 645 Introduced by SENATOR MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT PROVIDING 13TH MONTH PAY TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTUAL AND JOB ORDER PERSONNEL EXPLANATORY NOTE Contractual workers (COS) and job order (JO) personnel play a vital role in government service. They fulfill their duties diligently and passionately comparable to those holding permanent employee status. Notwithstanding, they are not entitled to some bonuses, such as the 13th-month pay, among other benefits. As of June 2023, 29.68 percent of the government workforce or a total of 832,812 were under job order contracts or contract of service. The majority of these job orders and contractual workers come from low-income families that struggle to meet their daily basic needs. In light of the persistent rise in the inflation rate which has led to an extraordinary increase in the prices of food, fuel, and other commodities, Filipino workers, including contractual and job order personnel of the government, face greater hardships in their daily lives. In addition, as contractual and job order personnel, they lack tenure security. Consequently, there hangs a consistent cloud of uncertainty for their source of income. In relation thereto, the President has ordered the extension of the services of COS/JO workers until December 31, 2025. In the meantime that there are COS and JO personnel, this bill aims to assist said workers with their everyday living expenses while uplifting their spirits by providing them a well-deserved reward during the Christmas season.

Thus, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. MARK A. VILLAR ROC

• =011 TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 JUL 15 P2:10 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED EY S. No. 645 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT PROVIDING 13TH MONTH PAY TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTUAL AND JOB ORDER PERSONNEL Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section. 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the " 13th Month Pay Law

for Contractual and Job Order Personnel."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State affirms labor as a primary and social

economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare, regardless of their status of employment.

Sec. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all government employees, regardless

of their employment status, contractual or job order personnel, provided that they 8 have completed at least one contract (minimum of three months) with the government 9 before July 1 of the current fiscal year, prior to the granting of the 13th month pay.

Sec. 4. Mandatory Payment of 13th Month Pay. - All government employees

regardless of their employment status, contractual or job order personnel, shall be entitled to 13th month pay every year.

Sec. 5. Minimum Amount - The minimum amount of the 13th month pay for

contractual and job order personnel shall not be less than one-half (½) of the monthly salary by the employee based on his/her current contract with the government.

Sec. 6. Implementing Rules. - Within sixty days from the enactment of this law,

the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall promulgate the guidelines for this Act.

Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or

unconstitutional, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. -All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,

presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

8 complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,