A bill seeking to grant Civil Service Eligibility (CSE) and a path to regularization to long-serving casual and contractual government employees has been filed in the House of Representatives. House Bill 6960, filed by 1Tahanan Partylist Representative Cong. Nathan Oducado, mandates that workers under such arrangements for at least five years be granted eligibility, a key step toward securing tenure and full benefits.
Filed on Monday, the bill stipulates that casual or contractual employees in first and second-level positions who have rendered at least five (5) years of “continuous efficient service” shall be granted the appropriate Civil Service Eligibility. This eligibility is a fundamental requirement for permanent employment in the Philippine government.
“This bill is an act of justice,” said Cong. Oducado. “It affirms the dignity of labor, rewards efficiency, and strengthens the morale of thousands of government workers who have long stood behind the delivery of essential public services.”
The legislator emphasized that a five-year period demonstrates an employee’s capability for regular employment. Currently, unlike their regular counterparts, casual and contractual workers lack benefits such as paid leaves, thirteenth-month pay, and security of tenure.
“The wealth of experience and skills acquired by workers under Job Order or Contract of Service arrangements must be accounted for,” Oducado stressed.
The proposed measure covers employees in the first and second levels of government service. However, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is tasked with formulating performance evaluation standards to ensure only qualified individuals receive the eligibility.
HB 6960 maintains that the standard CSE requirement would still apply for promotions. The CSC will be responsible for crafting the implementing rules and regulations, including the precise metrics for “continuous efficient service.”
The bill addresses a long-standing issue in the Philippine bureaucracy, where a significant number of personnel work on a non-permanent basis for extended periods, often performing essential functions without the commensurate benefits or job security. If enacted, the law could impact thousands of workers across various government agencies.
The information is based on the official statement and copy of House Bill 6960 filed by the office of Cong. Nathan Oducado in Quezon City.#
