By Prince Golez

Malacañang on Friday welcomed the “timely” issuance of Joint Circular (JC) No. 1, s. 2020 by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Audit (COA), allowing contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) workers in the government to receive their salaries despite the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

“The said circular lays down the general guidelines governing the compensation of our government workers under a COS or JO arrangement in connection with the imposition of a community quarantine in their areas to avert the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19),” according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

Under JC No. 1, s. 2020, COS and JO workers who will be required to work from home shall be paid their corresponding salaries/wages during the community quarantine period.

Said workers who will not be required to report for work due to work suspension and those who are not part of the agency skeletal workforce shall be paid their corresponding salaries/wages during the quarantine period as an exception to the “no work, no pay” principle, the DBM said.

“The prompt efforts of COA and DBM would certainly alleviate the socioeconomic impact of Covid-19 against our people in the public sector who have been anxious of their situation. This is one less worry for them and their families,” said Panelo.

“As the Palace joins COA and DBM in encouraging local government units to adopt the guidelines specified in Joint Circular No. 1 (s. 2020), it also trusts that its partners in the private sector will be inspired in providing the same policy to their workers under similar work arrangements,” he concluded.