Gov't places cap on hiring contract of service, job order workers

Government agencies have placed a cap on hiring contract of service and job order workers. 

In the Joint Circular No. 1, series of 2025, the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Commission on Audit (COA), and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) prescribed revised guidelines on the engagement of contract of service (COS) and job order workers in the government.

Government agencies may continue hiring COS and JO workers but shall not exceed the number of COS and JO workers as of the end of 2025, effectively placing a cap on contractual hiring, with the aim to address recurring contractualization in government.

This order covers national government agencies, GOCCs with original charters, state universities and colleges, and constitutional bodies, but excludes local government units and COS and JO workers paid from Engineering and Administrative Overhead Expenses.

This also directs agencies to review their staffing requirements, prepare Optimization Plans under the Government Optimization Act, and consider existing COS and JO workers for possible absorption into plantilla positions. 

Further, additional provisions include ancillary benefits, reportorial requirements, as well as responsibilities of agency heads to support worker welfare.

This order shall take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation and after filing with the Office of the National Administrative Register at the University of the Philippines Law Center. — VDV, GMA Integrated News