Senate okay of media workers’ welfare act pressed
THE Senate was urged to pass the proposed Media Workers’ Welfare Act which is crucial for the protection and security of all workers in the media industry.
Main author of the measure ACT-CIS Party-list Representative Rowena Niña Taduran said the legislation of the bill for media workers is long overdue as more are being exploited and unprotected especially during the time of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Maraming mga manggagawa sa media ang kapit sa patalim sa panahon ng pandemya. May mga employers na nagtanggal sa kanila sa trabaho o ibinaba ang mga suweldo, gamit ang pandemya bilang dahilan. May mga nagta-trabahong walang kontrata at benepisyo dahil walang batas na nagpo-protekta sa kanila,” Taduran said.
The solon stressed that media workers continued on performing their jobs at the height of the pandemic and during the election period without adequate protection.
“The government, through the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, has been extending support to media workers, especially in following up cases of violence against media workers. But this is not enough as media workers need more protection as they perform their duties. Wala man lang silang insurance para protektahan ang kanilang buhay at kalusugan,”she added.
House Bill 8140, sponsored by Taduran at the House of Representatives, has reached second reading in the Senate (Senate Bill 1820), with the version sponsored by Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
With a few days left in the 18th Congress, Taduran pleads the Upper Chamber to urgently pass the bill.
Under the bill, all media workers will be given wages mandated by law, enjoy security of tenure, will be accorded the hazard pay of ?500 for every day of work in a dangerous area, overtime pay plus insurance and other benefits.
They will also be provided with safety gear such as bulletproof vest, medical grade protective equipment and others.
Employers will be required to provide additional insurance coverage to media workers, aside from the Social Security System, PAG-IBIG and Philhealth. They will have to provide insurance which guarantees death benefit of P200, 000, disability benefit of P200, 000 and medical insurance benefit of P 100, 000.
The media owners will be liable for all contents released under their name. By Jester Manalastas
