ABS-CBN hit in House for alleged labor code violations

Two members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday criticized ABS-CBN over alleged violations of the Labor Code and skirting franchise law.

Kamanggagawa party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando, in his privilege speech, called out the broadcasting firm over the contractual status of the cameramen and drivers of news-coverage vehicles.

He said some of them work as much as 10 hours per day for a pittance of compensation.

Philreca party-list Rep. Presley de Jesus, for his part, questioned why ABS-CBN content is dominating the ALL TV channel as a block timer as if it owns the ALL TV franchise, years after its franchise expired on May 5, 2020.

GMA News Online has reached out to ABS-CBN for comment and will publish it as soon as it becomes available.

San Fernando claimed ABS-CBN threatened to terminate these workers who staged a protest over their plight, adding that this was a clear violation of the Labor law.

“Let us again make our position known, Mr. Speaker. Salot at kanser ang kontraktwalisasyon sa buhay ng mga manggagawa at ng bansang ito sa kabuhan,” San Fernando said.

After ABS-CBN’s franchise expired, its application for a new one was rejected by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises two months later, in July 2020.

"The airwaves are a privilege and not a right. Let us ensure that this privilege is not abused, not diluted, and not reclaimed through the back door after it has been denied through due process," De Jesus said. –NB, GMA News