Regularization of ‘Casual’ Gov’t Employees Eyed by Padilla

Casual or contractual government employees may soon be able to be regularized if a recently filed bill is enacted into law.

This comes as neophyte senator Robin Padilla filed Senate Bill 234, which aims to grant civil service eligibility for casual or contractual government employees if certain conditions are met.

If enacted into law, Padilla’s bill will grant civil service eligibility if the casual or contractual employee has worked for the government for five years.

If approved, the bill will be joining other special laws pertaining to civil service eligibility, including Bar/Board eligibility, Barangay Health Worker Eligibility, Barangay Nutrition, Scholar Eligibility, Barangay Official Eligibility, Electronic Data Processing Specialist Eligibility, Foreign School Honor Graduate Eligibility, Honor Graduate Eligibility, Sanggunian Member Eligibility, Scientific and Technological Specialist Eligibility, Skills Eligibility Category II, and Veteran Preference Rating.

Padilla said that it is time to grant eligibility to committed employees.

“It is high time that we grant eligibility to our committed casual or contractual employees of the government in order to open opportunities for higher salaried positions, boost their morale and keep them motivated, and enhance their productivity to the benefit of the public,” Padilla said.

Moreover, Padilla criticized the government’s “notoriety for denying” employee regularization opportunities.

“For the longest time, the government has gained notoriety for denying its employees opportunities to be regularized,” he added.

Data from the Civil Service Commission according to a press release from the Senate website shows that some 660,390 out of 2.4 million, or 27 percent of government employees in 2017 were under “job order” or “contract of service” status.

The bill covers casual or contractual employees occupying first-level career civil service positions in the clerical, trades, and custodial services which involve non-professional or sub-professional work in a non-supervisory or supervisory capacity.

Moreover, government employees who will qualify shall meet conditions which include a certificate of no pending administrative case; not being convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime involving “moral turpitude, disgraceful or immoral conduct, dishonesty, examination irregularity, drunkenness or addiction to drugs.”

An employee shall also not have been dishonorably discharged from the military service or dismissed for cause from any civilian position in the government to achieve eligibility. (GFB)