Relaxed worksite restrictions for young actors

TEEN actors are now allowed to again engage in on-cam shoots in studios or on locations as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) relaxed its worksite restrictions in areas under community quarantine.

Last Friday, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III issued Labor Advisory (LA) 24-A, series of 2020, allowing those aged between 18 and 15 years old to participate in such activities for the purpose of entertainment or information.

“The child has the right to refuse to work in accordance with Republic Act 9231 [Anti-child Labor Law] and Republic Act 11058 [Occupational Safety and Health Law],” Bello said.

The issuance applies to employers, whose business is allowed to operate during the community quarantine. Bello noted employers should meet the minimum public health standards as prescribed by the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, and DOLE.

LA 24-A supersedes LA 24, series of 2020, which was issued by Bello on July to prevent the exposure of young actors from the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). LA 24 restricted actors belonging to the 15 to 18 age group from engaging in any shoots outside of their homes.

Last week, experts from the University of the Philippines said the country was finally able to “flatten the curve” of its Covid-19 incidents after the government implemented another round of modified enhanced community quarantine last month.

Malacañang said the number infections in the country could still spike again in the coming months until a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available.