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House passes bill on protection of workers in movie, TV, radio entertainment industry


The House of Representatives on Monday unanimously passed on third and final reading the proposed measure seeking the institution of policies for the protection and promotion of the welfare of workers or independent contractors in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry.

A total of 240 House members voted "yes" to the passage of House Bill 1270 which sought to require an employment contract between the employer or principal and the worker or independent contractor before the commencement of service.

House Bill No. 1270 also sets conditions for the compensable hours of work and provides that the minimum wage rates of workers or independent contractors will not be less than the applicable minimum wage in the region and for entitlement to social security and welfare benefits such as Social Security System, the Home Development Mutual Fund or the Pag-IBIG Fund, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

The bill directs the employer to comply with occupational safety and health standards, promote mental health, and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace as provided by existing laws to workers in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry.

House Bill No. 1270 also seeks to:

  • guarantee that the employment of minors shall strictly adhere to existing laws;
  • uphold the right to self-organization and collective bargaining;
  • prohibit the “cabo” system where any person, group of persons or labor group acts as a labor contractor;
  • provide for the settlement of disputes between the employer and the worker or independent contractor;
  • create a Film, Television, and Radio Entertainment Industry Tripartite Council that will craft policy decisions affecting the industry;
  • direct the implementation of an information and education campaign on the protection of intellectual property rights of workers or independent contractors in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry; and
  • protect the right of performers to remuneration over intellectual property under the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines

The measure covers actors, singers, musicians, dancers, and other persons who act, sing, declaim, play and interpret, or otherwise perform literary artistic work.

In a statement, Speaker Martin Romualdez said that the passage of the measure would ensure that covered workers would continue to have gainful employment and protect them against abuse, harassment, dangerous working environment, and exploitation. —NB, GMA Integrated News

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