Treñas washes hands over lay off of ‘job hire’ workers
Amid reports of a massive lay off of “job hire” workers at Iloilo City Hall recommended by barangay captains identified with chief presidential legal counsel Raul Gonzalez Sr., City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the renewal of contracts of the “job hire” workers depend with the department heads.
Treñas denied that he initiated the lay-off of “job hires” after he declared his intention to run for congressman against Gonzalez’s son Raul Jr., who is the incumbent solon of Iloilo City.
“There is no lay off of workers hired by the city government. The contracts of job hire workers are renewed monthly. There is no lay-off as alleged,” Treñas said in a media interview.
Many of the “job hire” workers hired by the city government were recommended by the barangay captains who were then supportive of the Gonzalez-Treñas team up. The problem cropped up after Treñas bolted from the Gonzalez camp recently in preparation for next year’s election.
“Job hire” workers are assigned in various offices and projects of the city government such as the Clean and Green. Workers recommended by barangay officials were given priority in the hiring.
The non-renewal of the contracts of “job hire” workers is allegedly Treñas’s way of showing his power against the barangay captains who gave their support to the Gonzalezes when he called for a meeting. Majority of the 180 barangay captains are supporting the Gonzalezes.
Earlier, Mayor Treñas said that he is not afraid of the number of barangay captains supporting Gonzalez saying it is the people who will vote.
Treñas will run against incumbent Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr in the city’s lone congressional post. While, the elder Gonzalez will run in the mayoral race against Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog and Presidential Assistant on Water Larry Jamora.
Treñas stressed that the contract of “job hire” workers depend on the nature of their work. The hiring of “job hires” also depend on the recommendation of the department heads where they are going to do the work, he added.
Treñas said he only signs the contract of the “job hires”. It is the department head who prepares the contract for work in a certain time.
In a related development, Treñas has provided the elder Gonzalez a copy of a report on the status of casual as well as regular employees of the city government.
Gonzalez inquired on the status of casual workers after he received information that Treñas started to terminate the services of casual workers.
