Tulfo pushes regularization of JO, COS workers

Senator Raffy Tulfo slammed the government as the “number one violator” of ENDO as he urged proper funding to regularize Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) workers.

During the Senate budget debates, Tulfo said it’s unacceptable that thousands of JO and COS workers remain non-regular despite 154,986 unfilled plantilla positions in government. 

Many have been serving 10 to 15 years and are nearing retirement but remain contractual.

“Dapat bigyan ng sapat na budget ang mga ahensyang nangangailangan ng pondo para gawing regular ang mga kawani nila,” he said.

Finance panel chair Senator Sherwin Gatchalian agreed, citing budget limits and strict qualification standards as recurring issues.

Gatchalian added that the P10-billion Government Optimization Program under Republic Act. No. 12231 will soon create new plantilla items and adjust qualifications to help JO and COS workers become regular employees.IMT