City dad asks why JOs are ‘taxed’

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Richard Francis Aznar, the council's majority floor leader, is asking concerned offices of the city to shed light on the gripe of job order employees whose salaries are reportedly being taxed.

Specifically, Aznar said he will pass a resolution directing the Human Resources Department and the city accounting office to explain the report.

The job order workers are reportedly taxed three percent of their salary as per Bureau of Internal Revenue rules and regulations.

The job order employees' taxes are deducted from their salaries and wages semi-monthly for the payroll period, Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes earlier said.

Aznar said he is also planning to invite representatives from the Bureau of Internal Revenue to shed light on the issue and to appraise the city on the appropriate tax rates that must be levied on job order employees.

"If naay basis, wala man siguro'y problema. What is important nga mapasabot nato ang mga job order kay nahibulong man sila nganong gi-deduct sila nga job order man sila," Aznar said.

Around 1,500 job order employees at the Talisay City Hall are complaining because their salaries are being taxed.

As provided in their contracts, the nature of work of job order employees is not considered government service and that there is also no employer-employee relationship existing between them and the city government.

The salaries job order employees at the City Hall differ as some of them are receiving P275, P300 or P375 as they are paid on a daily basis or hired on a piecework or per task basis.  (FREEMAN)