House greenlights Media Workers’ Welfare Act

Media practitioners in the private sector may soon be entitled to “enhanced” protection, security, and benefits following the House of Representatives’ approval on Monday of the proposed bill.

House Bill 454, or the proposed Media Workers’ Welfare Act, received 252-0-0 votes and was passed on the third and final reading through a nominal vote and now only needs Senate and Malacanang’s approval.

The measure was a consolidation of HBs 304, 1924, 2487 and 2801 which seeks to ensure that media workers are paid at least the applicable minimum wage in their respective regions and have access to overtime pay and night shift premiums.

Once enacted, media workers will be entitled to overtime pay, night shift premiums, and other forms of compensation in addition to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board’s applicable minimum wage.

Media workers, as defined in the bill, are those legitimately engaged in news media practice directly or indirectly, whether as a principal occupation or not.

They will also be provided with hazard pay when required to report in dangerous areas and basic safety equipment as needed. In addition to the security tenure, the bill also mandates insurance benefits in addition to those already provided by the Social Security System, the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

Moreover, the bill likewise mandates the Department of Labor and Employment to keep an eye on whether the rules of the Act are being followed.

The House-approved bill was principally authored by Representatives Jeffrey Soriano, Eric Yap, Paolo Duterte, Jocelyn Tulfo and Ralph Tulfo.

The lower chamber approved a similar measure in the 18h Congress, but its version in the Senate failed to secure a final nod.