THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) and the Department of Budget Management (DBM) recently issued the implementing guidelines in hiring workers affected by the global financial crisis and temporary filling up of vacant positions in government offices.

The joint circular was issued on March 23 in implementing Executive Order (EO) 782 of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo “Instituting Measures to Assist Workers Affected by the Global Financial Crisis and Temporary Filling Up of Vacant Positions in the Government.”

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One of the salient features of EO 782 is the allocation and utilization of 1.5 percent of an agency’s budget for operating expenses for the temporary hiring of qualified Dole-registered displaced workers and their dependents.

Another is for agencies and government instrumentalities to campaign and encourage buoyant industries and companies under their supervision to hire on temporary or fixed, short-term basis registered displaced workers and their dependents.

The order also grants authority for the temporary filling up of vacant positions in agencies whose approval of rationalization plans are pending at the DBM.

The rationalization plan is embodied under EO 366 purposely to attain improved government performance to institute reforms, which would transform the bureaucracy into an efficient and result-oriented structure whereby those affected will be provided options and incentives for government employees under the executive branch.

The guidelines indicated government agencies and instrumentalities such as government-owned and controlled corporations will set aside 1.5 percent of their agency’s maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) for job order personnel.

This applies preferably to displaced workers and/or their dependents of employable age for a period not to go beyond December 31.

The displaced workers must be registered with the Dole while their dependents must present proof of affinity with the Dole-registered displaced worker.

Qualified dependents for a married displaced worker are the spouse and children while qualified dependent of a single displaced worker are the parents, sisters, and brothers.

The Dole will provide the agencies a master list of registered displaced workers as indicated in the guidelines or may be accessed through their website at www.dole.gov.ph.

As to the hiring of job order personnel using funds from vacant positions, this applies to agencies whose Rationalization Plans are under evaluation by the DBM however for a period not to go beyond one month after the approval of their Rationalization Plan.

As specified in the guidelines, funds will be sourced out from the allocation of funded vacant positions which agencies would request to be realigned to MOOE. Agencies need not request approval from the DBM to hire job order personnel for the purpose of EO 782 and the circular as stated.

As per Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular no. 17 series of 2002, services rendered by job order personnel will not be considered as government service and are only entitled to the basic salary for the position.

Constitutional offices, the legislature, the judiciary, and state universities and colleges may on a voluntary basis adopt the measures as stated in the circular. (Susan C. Aro)