Senate bills seek to give more benefits to government workers

Government employees working in the early hours of the morning or working in dangerous places may soon receive more benefits under two bills introduced in the Senate.

Bills granting a new differential allowance and a risk premium to public servants were approved by the Public Service Committee chaired by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and approved in the Senate by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Both measures indicate that government employees can perceive the wage differential and the risk premium "regardless of the nature of their employment, be it permanent, contractual, temporary or casual".

Senate Bill (SB) No. 1562 sets a night differential wage for government employees "at a rate not exceeding 20% ​​of the employee's basic hourly rate for each hour worked between 10 o'clock in the evening and 6 o'clock in the morning. "

Recognition of sacrifices

Trillanes said his night shift's pay was part of the committee's recognition of "the sacrifices of government employees who work late at night and in the early hours of the morning."

"It is fair that these people enjoy substantially the same benefits as those granted to employees in the private sector," he said in a statement.

"Our government employees have long suffered from neglect and poor working conditions. This law is just a simple effort to reimburse their services and recognize their role as the backbone of our government, "said Trillanes.

BS No. 559 grants a risk premium to all public service employees assigned to work at the following positions:

• danger zones, as defined by the Secretary of Defense;
• difficult areas or hardship positions characterized by distance, the inconvenience of moving due to bad roads and poor terrain conditions, isolation, inaccessibility and extreme weather conditions;
• X-ray units, clinics, laboratories, sanatoriums, lepers, observation posts and similar stations that pose health and safety risks due to radiation exposure , contagious diseases and volcanic activity;
• institutions that treat or care for patients with mental disorders;
• places subject to depredation by criminal elements such as those in prison reserves and penal colonies without adequate police protection;
• the facilities and installations of the arsenal;
• onboard aircraft and watercraft crossing waterways; and,
• other similar working conditions that the Department of Budget and Management must consider dangerous because of exposure to environmental, health and social risks.

"The Committee believes that it is only fair and reasonable that public servants and government employees receive
compensation, "said Trillanes.DJ Yap

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