JVR ends job order contracts 1T jobs endangered in mass termination

CEBU, Philippines - Over 1,000 job order employees of Talisay City government stand on the brink of losing their jobs.

This after Mayor Johnny De los Reyes yesterday issued a memorandum stating that all City Hall job order contracts will end on June 30.

"Please be informed that there will be a mass termination of all job order workers this coming June 30, 2014," read Memorandum No. 2014-256, which the mayor issued last June 10.

City information officer Vince Monterde told The FREEMAN that the mass termination of the job order employees is legal as provided for in the Local Government Code.

Monterde cited Section 77 that says "the period of employment of emergency or casual laborers as provided in this Section shall not exceed six (6) months."

The job order employees are receiving P300 daily from the city government.

Under the law, the local chief executive may employ emergency or casual employees or laborers paid on a daily wage or piecework basis and hired through job orders for local projects authorized by the Sanggunian concerned, without need of approval or attestation by the Civil Service Commission; provided further that the period of employment of emergency or casual laborers as provided in this section shall not exceed six months.

The Department of Interior and Local Government holds the considered view that the mayor can, motu propio, appoint or hire casual or emergency employees to work on Sanggunian approved projects without the requisite authority from said Sanggunaian.  (FREEMAN)