House approves on 2nd reading bill on media workers' security of tenure

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading the proposed media workers’ welfare bill which provides that media workers should be deemed regular employees six months from the start of employment, among other benefits.

House Bill 454, which the plenary approved on second reading through a voice vote, also provides that the six-month period before regularization shall be computed cumulatively if a media worker is repeatedly engaged for shorter periods.

Aside from the security of tenure, House Bill 454 mandates the following insurance coverage benefits in addition to those already enjoyed under the programs of the Social Security System, the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation:

• the death benefit of P200,000 for each media worker who died in the line of duty;
• disability benefit of up to P200,000 for each media worker who suffered a total or partial disability, whether permanent to temporary, arising from any injury sustained in the line of duty; and

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• up to P100,000 medical insurance benefit for each media worker

Likewise, the measure mandates the Department of Labor and Employment to monitor compliance with the provisions of this Act.

The bill also states that media entities will be responsible for all content released under their name and as such, the owner of media entities or franchise holder will be liable for claims arising from gross negligence, malicious acts, and violation of the proposed measure in connection with the work of block timers and media workers, regardless of the nature of engagement.

Liability won’t be applied to media entities provided that owners of the media entities or franchise holders can prove that due diligence was exercised or that the fault is attributable solely to the concerned block timer or media worker.

Lastly, the bill creates the News Media Tripartite Council which will serve as a platform for media workers and employers to discuss and agree on mutually beneficial policies, including the settlement of conflicts and the formulation of programs that support both sectors' aspirations, and thereby promote the growth and development of the media industry. —NB, GMA Integrated News