Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ----
Introduced by Representative Joseph Gilbert F. Violago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The role of communication and information is recognized by the State in the 
1987 Constitution (Art. II, Sec. 24). Our media workers and practitioners serve as the 
society's frontliners in delivering vital information to the public. 
Statistics reveal that more than 300 thousand Filipinos are working in media 
publishing and printing as of 2023. 1 While the actual data on the number of media 
workers as of 2024 is not yet available, one can surmise that hundreds of thousands of 
individuals rely on news media practice for a living. This is bolstered by the fact that 
most media entities or outlets are engaging in new ways of media practices, i.e., digital 
media, aside from traditional print and broadcasting. 
For this reason, the State shall ensure that media workers are protected from 
exploitation, properly compensated for the corresponding hazards due to the nature of 
their work and covered by social security and welfare benefits. 
This measure seeks to institutionalize minimum compensation for media 
workers in the private sector, i.e., who shall not receive less than the applicable 
minimum wage rate prescribed by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity 
Board and shall be entitled to overtime pay and night shift premiums, in accordance 
with existing rules and regulations. 
Upon employment, they shall be covered by the Social Security System (SSS), 
the Home Development Mutual Fund or the Pag-IBIG Fund, and the Philippine Health 
Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and entitled to retirement benefits. Likewise, they 
shall be entitled to hazard pay of Php500/day for those physically reporting for work in 
dangerous areas, as well as provided with protective equipment, and other necessities. 
Employers shall periodically provide safety seminars to their employees, including 
media workers. 
1 "Number of workers in media publishing and printing Philippines 2018-2023". Statista. Published by C. Balita,
Apr 5, 2024. Accessed thru <https://www.statista.com/statistics/1459933/philippines-number-of-workers-in­
media-publishing-and­
printing/#:~:text=As%20of%202023%2C%20the%20total,with%20a%20workforce%20of%20311%2C000> 
July 24, 2024
8:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Joseph Gilbert F. Violago 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING ENHANCED PROTECTION, SECURITY, AND BENEFITS FOR 
MEDIA WORKERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Media Workers’ Welfare 
and Benefits Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State affirms labor as a primary social 
economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare. The 
State shall afford full protection to labor and promote full employment and equality of 
employment opportunities for all. They shall be entitled to security of tenure, humane 
conditions 
of 
work, 
and 
a 
living 
wage. 
Towards this end, the State shall ensure that media workers are protected from 
exploitation, properly compensated for the corresponding hazards due to the nature of 
their work, and covered by social security and welfare benefits. 
SECTION 3. Coverage and Definition. – This Act shall apply to media workers and 
media entities in the private sector. 
Media workers refer to those persons legitimately engaged in news media practice, 
directly or indirectly, whether as a principal occupation or not. 
Media entities refer to persons or organizations, including media networks and 
operators that gather information of possible public interest and publishes it to the public 
using any one or more of a variety of media including text in print and digital format, 
photographs, videos and sound recordings. 
SECTION 4. Minimum Compensation. – Media workers shall not receive less than 
the applicable minimum wage rate prescribed by the Regional Tripartite Wages and 
Productivity Board, and shall be entitled to overtime pay and night shift premiums, as 
well as other forms of compensation provided by Presidential Decree No. 442, as 
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amended, otherwise known as the "Labor Code of the Philippines", and other related 
laws and issuances.   
SECTION 5. Social Security and. Welfare Benefits. – Media workers shall be covered 
by the Social Security System (SSS), the Home Development Mutual Fund or the Pag-
IBIG Fund, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) upon 
employment. The payment of monthly contributions shall be jointly shared by the media 
worker and the employer, when applicable, in accordance with existing rules and 
regulations. Media workers shall also be entitled to retirement benefits as provided 
under Republic Act No. 11199, otherwise known as the "Social Security Act of 2018". 
SECTION 6. Hazard Pay. – Media workers required to physically report for work in 
dangerous  areas such as strife-torn or embattled areas, distressed or isolated stations, 
disease-infested  areas or in areas declared under a state of calamity or emergency for 
the duration thereof  which expose them to great danger, contagion, radiation, volcanic 
activity or eruption,  occupational risks or perils to life as determined by the Department 
of Labor and Employment  DOLE), shall be compensated with a hazard pay in the 
minimum amount of Five hundred pesos Php500.00) per day, with no diminution, 
which shall be computed as follows: 
Hazard pay = Php500 x number of days physically reporting for work in 
dangerous areas 
The base amount of the hazard pay of media workers may be increased as decided upon 
by the concerned agencies. 
Employers shall also provide media workers covering events in dangerous areas with 
basic safety gear and equipment such as bulletproof vests and helmets, first aid kits, fire 
protection jackets, face shields, medical grade protective equipment, harnesses, safety 
shoes, and life vests. 
Employers shall periodically provide safety seminars to their employees, including 
media workers.  
SECTION 7. Mandatory Additional Insurance Benefits. – Employers shall provide 
additional insurance coverage to media workers as follows: 
a. Death benefit of Three hundred thousand pesos (Php300,000.00) for each media 
worker who shall perish in the line of duty; 
 
b. Disability benefit of up to Three hundred thousand pesos (Php300,000.00) for 
each media worker who shall suffer total or partial disability, whether permanent 
or temporary, arising from any injury sustained in the line of duty; and 
 
c. Medical insurance benefit for each media worker of up to One hundred thousand 
pesos (Php100,000.00). 
SECTION 8. Security of Tenure. – Media workers shall be deemed as regular 
employees after six (6) months from the start of employment, regardless of the nature 
of employment. However, the said six (6) months period shall be computed 


cumulatively if a media worker is repeatedly engaged for shorter periods. An employer 
shall not terminate the services of a media worker except for just or authorized causes 
under the Labor Code of the Philippines, and with the observance of procedural due 
process. 
SECTION 9. Settlement of Disputes. – All labor-related disputes shall be elevated to 
the DOLE regional office which has jurisdiction over the workplace. 
SECTION 10. Liability of Media Entities. – Media entities shall be responsible for all 
content released under their name. Owners of media entities or franchise holders shall 
be liable for claims arising from gross negligence, malicious acts, and violation of laws 
in connection with the work of block timers and media workers, regardless of the nature 
of engagement, except when the owners of the media entities or the franchise holders 
are able to prove that due diligence was exercised or that the fault is attributable solely 
to the concerned block timer or media worker. Any agreement to the contrary shall be 
void. 
SECTION 11. Compliance. – The DOLE shall monitor compliance with the provisions 
of this Act. 
SECTION 12. Administrative Penalties. – Violations of the provisions of this Act shall 
be subject to applicable penalties provided in Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, 
and other related laws and issuances 
SECTION 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from 
the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Labor and Employment shall, in coordination 
with media groups, associations, publishers, guilds and other concerned groups, issue 
the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 14. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force 
and effect. 
SECTION 15. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules, and 
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,