SEC. 8. Classification of Social Work Personnel. – The Social Work Management and
Consultative Council shall develop a career ladder and classification system for all
social work positions in government service: Provided, That all position classification
shall carry Social Worker title.
SEC. 9. Code of Conduct. – All public social workers shall be guided by the Social Work
Code of Ethics as adopted by the Board of Social Work and as approved by the PRC
within six months from the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 10. Normal Hours of Work. – The normal hours of work of any public social worker
shall not exceed eight hours a day or forty (40) hours a week. Hours of work shall
include:
the time during which a public social worker is required to be on active duty or to be at a
prescribed workplace;
the time during which a public social worker is permitted to work; or
the time during which a public social worker is required in a place other than prescribed
workplace;
Provided, That, the time when a public social worker is placed on ‘On Call’ status shall
not be considered as hours worked but sha11 entitle the public social worker to an ‘On
Call’ pay equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of his/her regular wage. ‘On Call’ status refers
to a condition when public social workers are called upon to respond to urgent or
immediate need or relief work during emergencies such that he/she cannot devote the
time for his/her own use: Provided, further, That, no public social worker shall be placed
in ‘On-Call’ status beyond seven days per month. Public social workers can also teach
or practice their profession after office hours.
SEC. 11. Overtime Work. – Where the exigencies of the service so require, any public
social worker may be required to render service beyond the normal eight hours a day,
inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays or nonworking holidays. In such a case, the public
social worker shall be paid an additional compensation in accordance with existing laws.
SEC. 12. Compensation. – The existing law on the salary scale of government
employees shall apply in determining the salaries of public social workers. In case of
violations of this provision, the public social worker concerned shall file the necessary
complaint to the CSC or NLRC through the Social Work Management and Consultative
Council.
SEC. 13. Leave Benefits. – Public social workers shall be entitled to all leave benefits
and privileges, such as but not limited to maternity, paternity, vacation and sick leaves,
as provided for under existing laws: Provided, That upon separation of the public social
workers from service, they shall be entitled to all accumulated leave credits with pay.
SEC. 14. Highest Basic Salary Upon Retirement. – Upon retirement, a public social
worker shall automatically be granted an increase of one salary grade higher than
his/her basic salary and his/her retirement benefits shall be computed on the basis of
his/her highest salary received.
SEC. 15. Other Benefits. – Aside from the benefits received as required under existing
laws and executive orders, the public social workers shall receive the following:
Hazard Allowance – Public social workers and public social welfare and development
workers assigned in remote and depressed areas, strife-torn or embattled areas,
distressed or isolated stations, mental hospitals, leprosaria, areas declared under a
state of calamity or emergency which expose them to great danger, volcanic
activity/eruption, occupational risks or threats to life shall be compensated with hazard
allowance equivalent to at least twenty per centum (20%) of the monthly basic salary.
Subsistence/Transportation Allowance — Public social workers who are required to
render services in communities, institutions, hospitals and other social work
establishments in order to make their services available at all times, shall be entitled to
daily full subsistence allowance for three meals which shall be computed according to
prevailing circumstances. Those assigned out of their regular work stations shall be
entitled to per diem in place of this allowance. Actual transportation allowance shall also
be provided to public social workers on field work.
Housing and Living Quarters Allowance – All public social workers who are transferred
to another assignment due to the exigency of the service shall be entitled to free
housing within the agency concerned: Provided, That, if living quarters are not available
within the agency and the personnel has his/her residence outside of fifty (50)
kilometers radius from such government facility, he/she shall receive a housing
allowance, and: Provided, further, That the rate of such housing allowance shall be
periodically adjusted for inflation.