Good News! Ma-Extend ang Contracts ng JO/COS Workers sa Gobyerno hanggang 2026?
Is it true na ma-extend muli ang contracts ng Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) workers sa gobyerno hanggang 2026?
In this post, we will tell you about what we know about this matter.
But first…
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 (as opposed to Institutional Contract via an agency or service provider)
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 if the Individual Contract of JO/COS workers will not be extended?
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.
Update: What we know so far about this matter?
One of our followers sent us an important update about this matter while attending a PAGBA seminar and he said that one of the speakers in the seminar updates that upon the directive of President BBM, the extension [or maybe the updated guidelines] on the individual contracts of JO/COS workers in government is now under review by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). The guidelines is jointly issued with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and/or Commission on Audit (COA).
What does this mean? It means that the government is addressing the issue on whether or not the individual contracts of existing JO/COS workers in government should be extended. We are positive that the updated guidelines will benefit JO/COS workers in government.
We are also hopeful that the updated guidelines will include new benefits for them and that there will be clearer plans for them in the future.
Regularly visit our website to get more updates on this matter.
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.