Senator Christopher "Bong" Go renewed his call for Congress to expedite the measure providing enhanced protection and benefits for media and entertainment workers to safeguard their rights and welfare.

Go noted the sacrifices of media and entertainment workers particularly as frontliners, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Behind the reports and amusing contents, our media and entertainment workers trudge the day and night just to provide Filipino people with timely information and coverage,” Go noted.

“They were the heroes during the pandemic, risking their lives to deliver news during typhoons, earthquakes, floods, or any other disasters,” added the senator.

Go has filed his version of the measure, Senate Bill 1183, also known as the proposed Media and Entertainment Workers' Welfare Act which the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment, chaired by Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has taken up early this week.

The measure primarily seeks to provide enhanced protection, security and incentives for media workers through additional health insurance package, overtime and night differential pay, and other benefits.

The bill also mandates the signing of a written contract between the media entity and the employee to ensure fair compensation and protection of labor rights. 

Penalties await for the media or entertainment companies who will fail to do so.

The bill also sets guidelines for working hours, with normal hours of work set for eight (8) hours, not exceeding “except when the exigencies of the service so require.”

In such cases, the maximum hours of work must not exceed 16 hours in any 24-hour period. For elderly workers, the maximum work hours are capped at 12 per day.

The measure also provides stricter protection for child actors, with work hours adhering to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7610 or the "Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act," and RA 9231 or the "Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Affording Stronger Protection for the Working Child Act."

The bill also seeks to make sure that media and entertainment workers will also be entitled to overtime pay for work rendered beyond the eight-hour normal work per day, in accordance with law or applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever is higher.

Go also sought nightshift differential for work rendered between 10 pm to 6 am the following day. Those required to physically report for work in dangerous areas must be provided with hazard pay.

“I always commit myself to advancing and supporting measures that will protect our workers’ rights and welfare,” the senator said.