With the work and pay policies gaining considerable debate on employee welfare during Luzon’s Enhanced Community Quarantine, the Valenzuela City Council addresses the need to ensure delivery of government services during the month-long quarantine.

Ordinance No. 676 Series of 2020 otherwise known as the “Alternative Work Arrangement Ordinance,” was passed during the 8^th City Council’s 32^nd Regular Session, March 23, 2020. The city government’s Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) employees will be adopting alternative work arrangement which may be considered as work from home or skeletal workforce.   

An exception to the “no work, no pay” principle in the course of quarantine period brought by the COVID-19 outbreak, the City Government of Valenzuela maintained a skeletal workforce among its personnel to continue to attend to the crucial needs of its constituents during this time of national emergency.

Salary and wages for workers who will be part of the alternative work arrangement shall be paid for, ascertaining the employees’ means for a living as they assure the delivery of necessary and essential services to the public.

The COS and JO workers are therefore enjoined to observe the guidelines and measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace by strictly observing social distancing, practicing personal hygiene, regular handwashing, and proper coughing and sneezing etiquette.

The ordinance will take effect immediately and shall also retroact from March 16, 2020 or the date of effectivity of the Enhanced Community Quarantine period. This ensures that COS and JO employees’ welfare is upheld, helping them tide over the month-long quarantine and supply to the needs of their families.

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