THE payment of night differential rates for employees working in the government sector is already a full-fledged law.
This is contained under Republic Act 11701, which was signed into law on April 13 but was only released today by Malacañang.
Night shift differential is paid for workers who render work from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Not included, however, are government employees whose work schedule start from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Covered by the newly signed law are government workers from division chief level down to rank and file, including employees working in Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), whether working under permanent, contractual, temporary or casual employment status.
The law states that these employees will be paid night shift differential pay not more than 20 percent of their basic pay rate per hour, as determined by the heads of agencies.
However, the new law does not cover government employees whose main work is on call on a 24-hour basis such as uniformed personnel under the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection and other related agencies as may be determined by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget and Management.
The law shall become effective 15 days after it is published in two major newspapers.