For better working conditions for the movie, television, and radio entertainment industry, a bill has been proposed and is now inching its way into law following its second reading approval at the House of Representatives.
On Monday's plenary session, the chamber gave a nod to House Bill 1270, or the proposed Eddie Garcia Act, through voice voting.
The measure seeks to provide gainful employment and a decent income, protection from abuse, harassment, hazardous working conditions, and economic exploitation for employees working in the mentioned industries.
Such bill was named after the late veteran actor Eddie Garcia, who died after suffering a neck injury while shooting for a television series in 2019.
The author of the bill, Camarines Sur Representative Raymund Villafuerte, cited the Directors Guild of the Philippines and said that productions would go from 16 to 24 continuous hours per set and would cram to save cost.
In the proposed measure, workers or talents shall only be working eight hours a day, while overtime work is also taken into consideration and should not go beyond 12 hours in a 24-hour period, having a total number of work hours not exceeding 60 hours in a week.
Work performed over a period of time longer than eight hours must be compensated with overtime pay and other benefits allowed by law.
According to the proposed legislation, the minimum wage rates for employees or independent contractors cannot be less than the local minimum wage.
Additionally, the employee will be eligible for welfare and social security benefits like those provided by the Social Security System, the Home Development Mutual Fund, the Pag-IBIG Fund, and PhilHealth insurance.
The employer is required to follow laws governing workplace safety and health, support mental health, and stop sexual harassment from occurring.
The law also gives talent and crew members who work on location shoots fair wages and services including lodging and transportation.
