Sen. Joel Villanueva issued a bill proposal that promotes the protection of media and entertainment workers.
The Media and Entertainment Workers Welfare Act is already underway in the Senate.
Villanueva, the sponsor for the said bill, highlighted the essential responsibilities of media and entertainment workers that included providing information and entertainment in times of lockdown during a pandemic.
The content of the bill proposal includes the requirement of having a signed written contract with the employees and media entity, the duration of work should be limited to eight hours only, and the inclusion of overtime work pay, hazard pay, and night shift differential pay.
The said bill is still subject to further studies by the Department of Labor and Employment, Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System. The need to determine the inclusion of insurance benefits for the employees, amounting to P100,000 for reimbursement of medical expenses; and P200,000 each for death and disability benefits.
“Napakahalaga po ng trabaho ng ating mga manggagawa sa media at entertainment industries. Naniniwala po tayong mas magagampanan nila ang kanilang trabaho at tungkulin sa bayan kung sapat ang kanilang mga benepisyo, napapangalagaan ang kanilang kalusugan, at garantisado ang lahat ng kanilang mga karapatan,” Villanueva stated.
The presentation of the proposed bill in the Senate is in January 2022.
