MANILA -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Sunday denied that 1,200 contract of service (COS) workers have been dismissed as claimed by one of its employees.
The DSWD explained that the reduction in the number of workers was not because of the dismissal but due to various reasons including the appointment of 876 COS workers to permanent, coterminous, casual and contractual positions from June 2018 to March 2019.
Based on records of the department, the COS positions have also been cut down due to the reduction in the 2019 approved budget of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
It also cited the winding down of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) with majority of employees in the program are under COS status while some COS workers resigned and transferred to other government agencies and the private sector.
In line with the expansion of its programs and services, the DSWD has, in fact, hired more workers.
As of April 28, 2019, the number of DSWD workforce nationwide is 27,000 composed of permanent, casual, contractual, coterminous, COS workers or Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) workers and Job Orders (JOs). Of this number, 13,294 are COS or MOA workers and JOs.
The DSWD management has also been pushing for the regularization of qualified COS workers through constant coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the creation of regular positions.
To date, a total of 8,083 proposed positions, including 4,779 positions for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) have been submitted to DBM.
The DSWD will hold a Workforce Planning Workshop this month to discuss and evaluate the creation of additional positions for its offices and bureaus in the central office and field offices.
“This will serve as a basis for COS workers to apply for the available positions, in accordance with the established selection process and qualification standards set by the Civil Service Commission,” according to the DSWD statement.
“As a matter of policy, qualified COS workers shall be given priority for these positions since they already have the necessary experience which they gained while working in the department,” it added.
The DSWD assured it will continue to respect the dignity of its workers and will continue to put premium on their rights, security, and welfare as part of its good governance anchored on fair and just employment practice. (PR)
