Steph Deschamps / February 16, 2023
On the occasion of Valentine's Day, the single employees of a Philippine city hall will be paid more Tuesday, the mayor wanting to reward them for their overtime. And to remind them that "someone loves them ».
People who have been single for more than five years and work for the municipality of General Luna (southeast) in the province of Quezon will receive the equivalent of three days pay, Mayor Matt Florido told AFP.
The other hearts to take among the staff will have to be satisfied with a doubled pay or a paid day off. "I know what they are going through today, I understand them," said Florido, who said he has been single "since birth" and is paying 28,000 pesos (475 euros) out of his own pocket to ensure the operation. "For Valentine's Day, no one will offer them chocolates or flowers (...) So we thought we would give them this kind of gratuity so they can also feel that someone cares about them, that someone loves them. »
This is the third year that Florido has given a bonus to single people working for the pineapple community. The money is also an acknowledgement of the strain placed on staff members without partners, who must work overtime when necessary. "At home, they have lighter obligations, so whenever we need them to work overtime, when relief operations are taking place, or they give up sleep to serve the city, we can always count on them," he argued.
Of the municipality's 289 employees, 37 qualified for the bonus after undergoing a rigorous verification process to confirm their status. Eligible staff had to answer questions about when they were last in a relationship or why they broke up and remained single.
We're a very small town so everyone knows everyone. We can't hide anything," Florido said. The bonuses will be handed out Tuesday night at a Valentine's Day party for all staff, which will include courtship games. "Who knows, they might end up getting together," the mayor speculates. "Maybe they're already hitting on each other. »