Revilla: Government workers also deserve night differential pay

The Senate today passed on third reading a bill granting night shift differential to government employees whose work requires them to perform their duties beyond regular working hours.

"The Labor Code of the Philippines defines night shift differential as "not less than 10% of his regular wage for each hour of work performed between 10 o'clock in the evening and 6 o'clock in the morning," Revilla, chair of the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization, and Professional Regulation, said.

This wage-related benefit is given to private employees as mandated by the Labor Code.

Senate Bill No. 643 proposes to grant night shift differential to government employees who work beyond regular hours and extend their schedules to better serve the people.

Under Senate Bill No. 643, government employees, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations, whether they are permanent, contractual, temporary, or casual, shall be paid night shift differential at a rate not exceeding twenty percent (20% ) of the hourly basic rate of the employee for each hour of work performed between 6 pm to 6 am.

According to the measure, funding for the night differential of workers coming from the national government will be charged against the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Funding for the night differential of local government workers shall come from their respective funds, the measure also said, while government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries shall get their funding from their respective corporate funds.

"Public sector employees also deserve the benefit we give to their private counterparts," Revilla said.

This proposed measure seeks to recognize government employees' unselfish service, Revilla added, saying that as important as it is for the private sector, the granting of night differential to government employees will also go a long way in helping to ensure their safety, security, and productivity, "since working at night takes a toll on any person's health, property, and life."