Senator Bong Go (Senate PRIB)

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has filed a bill that aims to recognize the rights of freelance workers and ensure that they are protected and adequately compensated for their services. In the explanatory note of  Senate Bill (SB) No. 2107, or the “Freelance Workers Protection Act”, Go noted that the number of Filipinos engaging in freelancing as a source of income has been increasing, particularly during the recent pandemic years. “Freelance workers contribute to the growth of our economy in just the same manner as other Filipino workers who are rendering their worthwhile service,” he said. However, due to the nature of their services, freelance workers frequently encounter issues like lack of protection and non-payment for services rendered. “Though considered self-employed they should also be subjected to the equal protection and entitlement given to other Filipino workers,” he pointed out. Amid these issues, Go said that his bill “can give Filipino freelance workers the right to demand payment for rendered services through any legal channel, impose penalties on dishonest hiring parties, and criminalize failure of compensating Filipino freelance workers". Under the bill, any hiring party obtaining or retaining the services of a freelance worker shall execute a written contract with the worker before the services are rendered. The bill, if enacted into law, will also require a downpayment of not less than 30 percent of the contract price upon engagement. Freelance workers who are required to work at night shall be paid a night shift differential of not less than 10 percent of their regular compensation. All freelance workers deployed in dangerous areas must also be compensated with a hazard pay equivalent to at least 25 percent of the total payment for the period of such deployment. Moreover, the bill also prohibits certain unlawful practices, such as engaging with a freelance worker without a written contract. If passed into law, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is tasked to investigate complaints alleging a violation of the proposed measure and attempt to resolve the complaint by any method of dispute resolution, including mediation and conciliation. If a violation is found, the DOLE shall issue a notice of violation to the respondent and order the corresponding payment of compensation due to the prevailing party. A member of the Senate Committee on Labor, Go said he has been advocating for various measures that promote the rights and welfare of workers in the country, recognizing their crucial role in ensuring the Philippines' sustainable path to economic recovery.