MALACANAN, Manila — In gratitude of the service rendered by contract of service and job order employees in government, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has approved the proposed gratuity pay to be given contractual government workers this year.

President Marcos raised from ₱5,000 to ₱7,000 the gratuity pay of all contract of service and job order workers who have rendered a total or aggregate actual satisfactory service performance of at least four months as of December 15.

According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the last gratuity pay increase was in 2021 when it rose from ₱3,000 to ₱5,000.

Budget secretary Amenah 'Mina' Pangandaman clarified, though, that employees who rendered less than four months of satisfactory service as of December 15 may still receive this year’s gratuity pay on a pro-rata basis, based on Administrative Order 28 signed on December 19 by executive secretary Lucas Bersamin.

"Contractual workers with three months of service may receive gratuity pay not exceeding ₱6,000, while those with two months may receive gratuity pay not exceeding ₱5,000. Meantime, workers with less than two months of service may receive gratuity pay not exceeding ₱4,000," Pangandaman cited.

President Marcos Jr. pointed out that" (the) granting (of the) yearend gratuity pay to contractual workers is a well-deserved recognition of their hard work and valuable participation in the implementation of various PAPs (programs, activities and projects) of the government and their pivotal role in the delivery of government services amid the present socioeconomic challenges."

In reaction to this, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) welcomed the development even as it reiterated its call once again for the regularization of contractual government workers.