No more JO/COS in 2026? — The fate of JO/COS workers in government in 2026 and years thereafter?
Is it true that there will be no more Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) workers in the government next year?
What is the fate of job order and contract of service workers in government for FY 2026?
In 2024, there were around 800,000 job order workers in the Philippine government and many of them, if not all, were hired on individual contract.
Since 2017 and every year thereafter, government agencies were authorized to engage job order and contract of service on individual contract.
In fact in 2024, the government extended once more the engagement of job order and contract of service workers through individual contracts until December 31, 2025, pursuant to COA-DBM Joint Circular No. 2, s. 2024.
The subject Joint Circular provides the following:
11.0 Transitory Provision
11.1 Departments/agencies may engage the services of new COS/JO workers through individual contracts and renew the individual contracts of their existing COS/JO workers until December 31, 2025.
Thereafter, the engagement of services of COS/JO workers shall be in accordance with the provisions of COA-DBM JC No. 2, s. 2020 as well as any subsequent guidelines, rules and regulations issued by the COA, DBM and other concerned parties.
(emphasis and underscoring ours)
For this reason, these workers are asking, will they still be engaged individually once more for next year (2026)?
What could happen in 2026?
Unless the DBM and COA, upon the order of the President, extend anew the engagement of job order and contract of service workers through individual contacts, the guidelines provide that agencies shall comply with the provisions of DBM-COA Joint Circular No. 2, s. 2020.
What does COA-DBM JC No. 2, s. 2020 provides?
COA-DBM JC No. 2, s. 2020 provides that until December 31, 2022, which was extended several years thereafter until December 31, 2025 by various COA-DBM Joint Circulars, agencies may engage the services of new COS/JO workers through individual contracts and renew the individual contracts of their existing COS/JO workers.
Thereafter, the engagement of COS/JO workers shall be in accordance with the provisions of DBM-COA JC No. 2, s. 2020. Seemingly, the engagement of COS/JO workers may still be allowed in the succeeding years; however, no longer through individual contracts but through institutional contract or if the agency has vacant positions and the COS/JO workers of the agency qualify, then they will be given priority when they fill these vacant positions.
What is institutional contract?
Institutional contract refers to the agreement between the government agency and contractor or service provider duly-registered and recognized by authorized government agencies to provide services such as janitorial, security, consultancy, and other support services.
The Joint Circular provides that the institutional contract to be entered into by government agencies with a contractor or service provider shall include a provision which will state that the existing qualified COS/JO workers engaged by the agencies may be considered in the hiring by the contractor or service provider.
The Joint Circular further provides that the existing qualified COS/JO workers shall be considered for appointment by the government agencies to their vacant positions subject to existing civil service laws, rules, and regulations, as well as the CSC-approved Merit Selection Plan of the agency.
Summary
In summary, unless the government issues another Circular extending the engagement of COS/JO workers in the government through individual contracts until December 31, 2026 or for longer years, the provisions of COA-DBM JC No. 2, s. 2020 apply, that is: engage the services of COS/JO workers through institutional contract subject to the guidelines provided in the Circular OR employ or hire the existing COS/JO workers to fill up the vacant positions of the agency..
Note to our readers:
The guidelines provided in the subject joint circulars are for the national government agencies only and may not be applicable to other branch of government such as the local government unit.
Question?
If you have questions about this post, kindly leave them in the comments section below and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
I’m confused.
Aren’t engagement in COS under individual contracts still allowed after 2026? As stated in the article, “the provisions of COA-DBM JC No. 2, s. 2020 apply” where it quoted 6.1 of the circular which concerns Institutional Contract of Service. However, the circular also contains 6.2 which still allows engagement of of COS through individual contracts. To wit:
“6.2 Individual Contract of Service
Government agencies MAY ENTER INTO COS WITH INDIVIDUALS as consultants/contractors, subject to the following guidelines:
6.2.1 The term of contract between the agency and the individual contractor shall be for a maximum period of one (1) year, renewable at the option of the Head of the procuring entity, but in no case shall exceed the term of the latter.
6.2.2 Engaging the services of an individual contractor shall be subject to pertinent provisions of RA No. 9184 and its implementing guidelines, as applicable, and the existing budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations.”
(emphasis mine)
Am I missing something? And why was this provision not mentioned in the article.
Thanks!
Kindly refer to the Transitory Provision of DBM-COA Joint Circular No. 2024-2, where it states:
“11.0 Transitory Provisions:
11.1 Departments/agencies may engage the services of new COS/JO workers through individual contracts and renew the individual contracts of their existing COS/JO workers until December 31, 2025.
Thereafter, the engagement of services of COS/JO workers shall be in accordance with the provisions of COA-DBM JC No. 2, s. 2020, as well as any subsequent guidelines, rules, and regulations issued by the COA, DBM, and other concerned parties.”
Thus, we refer you also to the Transitory Provision of DBM-COA Joint Circular No. 2, s. 2020 after Item 11.1.
Because if the intention of the Circular is to allow agencies to engage COS/JO workers on individual contracts, it should have not provided the deadline/timeline for which government agencies can do so.
Our POV. Thank you.
What will happen if walang na-renew na JO/COS sa lahat ng ahensya?
There will be no more COS/JO workers hired on individual contracts if that will happen.
Was the rleis applied also the CHED
Sorry, what is RLEIS? Thank you.
Eto po bang JO/COS eh kasama ang mga office clerk? Or mga utility & security lang?
Lahat ng COS/JO workers hired through individual contracts are affected.