Romualdez thankful for support to freelance workers’ protection bill
HERE’S some good news for Filipino freelance workers.
A measure that seeks to provide protection to the 1.5 million freelance workers nears of becoming a law, as it was approved on third and final reading at the House of Representatives.
The main objective of House Bill 6718 or the Freelance Workers Protection Act is to provide protection and relief to over 1.5 million Filipino freelance workers who may fall prey to abusive employers due to a lack of a grievance system in the digital economy.
With an overwhelming 250 votes, the measure mandates the institutionalization of benefits such as night differential and hazard pay for freelance workers whenever they are applicable.
Speaker Martin Romualdez was grateful for the full support of the House members.
“As the digital economy expands, the number of Filipino freelance workers also increases. And if no laws are in place to protect our gig economy freelancers or to establish a formal grievance system to enforce their rights, they will be susceptible to all kinds of abuse,” Romualdez said.
“As a sector with an exploding growth spurt in the coming years, they need protective cover under our laws to ensure their transition as a significant driver of our economy,” Romualdez added.
Freelance workers in the Philippines account for over 1.5 million people working in the gig economy.
HB 6718 defines a freelance worker as any natural person or entity composed of no more than one natural person, whether incorporated under the Securities and Exchange Commission, registered as a sole proprietorship under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or registered as self-employed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
The measure mandates that a written contract be executed by any hiring party with the freelance worker that contains the extent of the services retained or obtained and important details such as the amount of compensation and the schedule of payment.
