EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. NO. 2467
. December 15, 202ffn
... 02:16 pm
SILLS
Prepared by the Committees on Labor, Employment and Human Resources 
Development; and Public Information and Mass Media with Senators Sotto III, 
Revilla, Jr., and Villanueva as authors thereof.
AN ACT PROVIDING ENHANCED PROTECTION,
SECURITY AND BENEFITS FOR MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT WORKERS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Media and
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Entertainment Workers' Welfare Act."
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is the oeclared policy of the State to
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accord full protection to labor and promote full employment and equality of
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employment opportunities for all. Pursuant to the Constitution, all workers shall be
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guaranteed the right to self-organization, collective bargaining and negotiations, and
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peaceful concerted activities. They shall also be entitled to security of tenure, humane
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conditions of work, and a living wage. They shall participate in policy and decision-
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making processes affecting their rights and benefits as may be provided by law. To 
10 this end, workers in the media and entertainment industry shall:
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(a) Have the right to a safe and healthful workplace, a safe atmosphere conducive
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to free and fruitful media and entertainment work, and freedom from any
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harassment, consistent with the Constitutional guarantee of the freedoms of
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speech, press, and expression; and


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(b) Have all the rights accorded to workers in accordance with Philippine laws,
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ratified international labor standards, conventions, and other relevant
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instrumentST
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SEC. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all workers in the media and
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entertainment industry, as defined herein.
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(a) Media and Entertainment Workers include:
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(1) Workers who are engaged in the pursuit of information gathering, 
production, report, and distribution of media, directly or indirectly, 
whether as a principal occupation or otherwise, such as, but not limited 
to, reporters, journalists, correspondents, broadcast news analysts, 
writers and authors, editors, and photographers; and
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(2) Workers in the audio-visual production, such as, but not limited to, 
director, assistant director, director of phonography, production designer, 
production manager/unit production fnanager, location manager, 
technical crew, department heads, department crew, on-camera 
performers, and talents; and
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(b) Media and Entertainment Industry consists or persons, whether natural or
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juridical, engaged in film, television, radio broadcast, print, or theater
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productions.
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SEC. 4. Mandatory Written Contract. - Prior to the commencement of any
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work, it shall be mandatory for the worker and the media or entertainment entity to
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enter into a written contract detailing the terms of their engagement. The contract
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shaii be in a language understood by both parties and shall, at the minimum, contain
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the following:


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(a) Itemization of all work and/or services to be p-ovided by the worker and the
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terms and conditions of the engagement;
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(b) The rate and method of compensation, the date on which salaries and/or wages
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shall be paid, or mechanisms by which such jue date shall be determined,
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subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations;
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(c) The name and registered address of all parties, and in the case of a foreign or
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foreign-based entity, the name and address of the local agent or representative,
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or any duly acknowledged representative basec in the Philippines; and
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(d) Oltier terms and conditions that govern the performance of the mutual
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obligations of the parties that are not contrary co law, morals, good customs,
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public order, or public policy.
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In case of failure to enter into a written agreement, the media or entertainment entity
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or the hiring party shall be liable for a fine rangii:g from Ten Thousand Pesos
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(Phpl0,000.00) to One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Phpl00,000.00), depending on the
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amount of the agreement involved; Provided, That in the absence of a written
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agreement, any written exchange or proof of submission and receipt of the completed
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task, work or service subject of the engagement, wheiher electronic or printed, shall
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be sufficient basis for collection of compensation or payment; Provided, finally, That
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ffie absence of a written agreement shall not be a bar tc the collection of compensation
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and/or payment for the services or work rendered by the media or entertainment
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worKer.
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SEC. 5. Compensation and Terms of Work - Regardless of the nature of
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engagement, pay and related benefits of media and entertainment workers shall not
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be lower than the minimum standards, as provided by laws.


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SEC. 6. Hours of Work - The normal hours of work shall not exceed eight
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(8) Hours, except when the exigencies of the service so require. In such a case, the
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maximum hours of work shall not exceed sixteen (16) hours in any twenty-four (24)-
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hour period.
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However, for elderly workers, tiie maximum hours of work shall not exceed twelve
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(12) hours per day, while work hours of children shall adhere to the provisions of
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Republic Act No. 7610 or the "Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse,
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Exp 'oitation and Discrimination Act', and Republic Act Mo. 9231 or the " Elimination of
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die Worst Forms of Child Labor and Affording Stronger Protection for the Working
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Chad Act'.
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All hours spent by workers required or suffered to be on standby and are restricted to
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the confines of the workplace or work premises, or are required or engaged to wait
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shall be considered hours worked and compensable waiting time.
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SEC. 7. Overtime Work and Night Shift Differentiai Pay. - In all cases,
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media and entertainment workers shall be entitled .o, in accordance with law or
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applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever ;s higher, overtime pay for work
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rendered beyond the eight (8) hours normal work per day and to nightshift differential
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for work rendered between 10:00 o'clock in the eveninrj to 6:00 o'clock in the morning
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the following day.
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SEC. 8. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Standards. - All entities
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in the media and entertainment industry shall comply .vith the provisions of Republic
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Act No. 11058, otherwise known as "An Act Strengthening Compliance with
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Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations
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Thereof" For this purpose, the media or entertainment entity who is in charge of, or
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manages, controls, or supervises the work being und.jrtaken, and who has direct or
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indirect control over the workplace shall undertake the following:


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(a) Observance of occupational safety and health standards, in accordance with
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law and pertinent rules and regulations of tr.e Department of Labor and
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Employment (DOLE);
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(b) Mandatory presence of OSH personnel;
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(c) 
Creation of Safety and Health Committee, as piovided under Republic Act No.
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11058;
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(d) Conduct of safety operation;
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(e) 
Provision of first aid;
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Provision of persona! protective equipment;
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(g) 
Conduct of risk assessment;
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(h) Preparation of an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan;
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(i) 
Provision of adequate sanitary and privacy provisions; and
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(j) Such other requirements as may be necessary, taking into consideration the
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risks and/or hazards involved in the workplace and the nature of the work to
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be performed.
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In all cases, workers shall have the right to refuse unsafe work in accordance with law.
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For the avoidance of doubt, compliance with OSH regulations shall be equally
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applicable to contractors/subcontractors and block timers, or those who buy airtime
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from radio and television franchise holders.


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SEC. 9. Hazard Pay. - Media workers that ar- required to physically report
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for work in dangerous areas, such as strife-tom or embattled areas, distressed or
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isolated stations, disease-infested areas, or in areas declared under state of calamity
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or health emergency, which expose them to great danger, contagion, radiation,
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volcanic activity/eruption, occupational risks or perils tc life and limb shall be provided
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with hazard pay, in an amount equivalent to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of
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theii' basic daily wage or compensation.
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Micro and small enterprises, as defined under Republic Act No. 6977, as amended,
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otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Micro, Small, :-md Medium Enterprises", may,
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upon proper application with the Department of Labor ^md Employment (DOLE), apply
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for an exemption for the grant of hazard pay.
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SEC. 10. Additional Insurance Benefits for Media Workers. - Within
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two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, the DOLE, Department of Finance,
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National Economic Development Authority, Social Security System, Government
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Sen. ice Insurance System, Employees' Compensation C ommission, and other relevant
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government agencies shall study the feasibility ond submit a plan for the
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implementation of providing additional insurance benefit to workers in the media and
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entertainment industry. As far as practicable, the additional benefits shall include the
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following minimum benefits:
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(a) Death Benefit of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 200,000.00) for each
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media worker who shall perish in the line of duty;
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(b) Disability Benefits of up to Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 200,000.00) for
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each media worker who shall suffer total or partial disability, whether
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permanent or temporary, arising from any injury sustained in the line of duty;
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and


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(c) Reimbursement of actual medical expenses up to, but not to exceed, One
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Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00) for each media worker who shall
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be hospitalized or who shall require medical attendance for injuries sustained
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while in the line of duty.
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Provided, That nothing herein shall be construed as a limitation for the parties to agree
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to additional insurance coverage beyond the insurance benefits provided by law.
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SEC. 11. Media Workers in the Public Sector. - The Civil Service
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Commission shall issue the appropriate rules and regulations applicable to media
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workers in the public sector to ensure compliance .vitii the rights and privileges
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granted to media workers under this Act, subject to applicable laws, rules and
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regulations governing workers in the public sector.
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Mecia workers in the government service not otherw.>e covered by the Civil Service
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laws, rules, and regulations shall be entitled to the benefits provided under this Act.
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Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and applicable civil sen/ice laws, rules,
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and regulations, government media entities shall priorkize the appointment to regular
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plartilla positions of incumbent casual, contract of Scivice, or job order employees
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whc have rendered exemplary and outstanding service.
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SEC. 12. Compliance and Reporting Requirement. - The DOLE shall be
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the orimary agency responsible for the implementatic.'i of the provisions of this Act.
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Con;piiance with labor standards shall be enforced by ihe DOLE Regional Office which
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has jurisdiction over the workplace of the media entity in accordance with the Labor
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Code and pertinent rules and regulations. Covered entities under this Act shall also
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comply with the reportorial requirements provided under Republic Act No. 11058,
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including, but not limited to, the notification of shooting location and schedule to the
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DOLE Regional Office over the shooting location, and to the Film Development Council
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of the Philippines, as applicable.


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The Civil Service Commission (CSC) shall be responsible for implementing the
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provisions of this Act in the public sector in accordance vvith the applicable laws, rules
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and regulations.
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SEC. 13. Responsibilities of Media Entities. - A media entity shall be
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responsible for all contents released under its name in accordance with law.
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SEC. 14. Tripartite Council. -The DOLE shall spearhead the creation of an
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industry tripartite council for entertainment and news media, which may be separate
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or as one industry. Such tripartite council/s shall serve as the platform of die industry
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and its stakeholders in crafting policy and programs that will affect them and the
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industry as a whole.
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SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOLE, in
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consultation with appropriate government agencies and relevant stakeholders, shall
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proinuigate the Implementing Rules and Regulations TiRR) within 120 days from the
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effectivity of this Act.
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SEC. 16. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision or section
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of tnis Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, suer, portions not affected thereby
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shall remain in full force and effect.
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SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
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accordingly.
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SEC. 18. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall ta^e effect fifteen (15) days after
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its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,