Gov’t contractual, job order workers to receive salaries despite Luzon-wide community quarantine — DBM

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Friday said government contractual and job order workers are entitled to receive their salaries during the one-month enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

This was stated in the DBM and Commission on Audit’s Joint Circular No. 1, series of 2020 “Interim Guidelines Governing Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) Workers in the Government for the Duration of the State of Calamity and Community Quarantine Due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)” issued on March 19.

The joint circular provides that COS and JO workers “who will be required to work from home shall be paid their corresponding salaries/wages during the community quarantine period.”

Likewise, COS and JO workers who will not be required to report for work due to work suspension and those who are not part of the agency skeletal workforce shall be paid their corresponding salaries/wages during the community quarantine period as exception to the “no work, no pay” principle but only for the duration of the community quarantine period due to the COVID-19 —March 17 to April 12.

“Appropriate additional benefits may also be granted to COS and JO workers who will be part of the agency skeletal workforce and will be able to physically report for work during the quarantine period, as may be authorized by the Office of the President,” according to the joint circular.

The entire Luzon was placed under enhanced community quarantine at 12 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night.

Under this condition, strict home quarantine will be implemented in all households, transportation will be suspended, provision for food and essential health services will be regulated and the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures will be heightened. — Ted Cordero/RSJ, GMA News