TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 249
Z5 JUL -8 P5 :23
Introduced by Senator Erwin Tulfo
AN ACT
PROTECTING THE WELFARE OF WORKERS IN THE 
MEDIA AND NEWS INDUSTRY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Media and news workers play a vital role in safeguarding the 
public’s right to timely, accurate, and critical information. Their labor 
sustains press freedom, public accountability, and democratic 
participation. Despite this essential function, media and news workers 
face alarming vulnerabilities. They often perform their duties under 
conditions marked by job insecurity, low pay, lack of benefits, and 
dangerous environments.
A 2021 survey conducted by the National Union of Journalists of 
the Philippines (NUJP) revealed that 44% of media workers earned Php 
15,000 or less per month, while 15%, primarily those based in the 
provinces, reported earning Php 5,000 or less. Additionally, 50% of 
respondents indicated they did not receive holiday pay, hazard pay, or 
insurance coverage for dangerous assignments. Alarmingly, 55% 
stated they were not compensated for overtime work1.
This proposed legislative measure seeks to rectify these systemic 
injustices by enshrining into law the minimum protections and
1 Baizas, Gaby, “Philippine media is at a crossroads -— and it’s impacting journalists”, February 
07, 2025, retrieved from; https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/reality-life-fmancial- 
work-struggles-journalism-philippines/, retrieved on July 05, 2025.
1


dignified working conditions that all media and news workers deserve. 
It proposes a minimum compensation consistent with the regional 
minimum wage, and mandates payment of overtime, night shift 
differential, and holiday pay. It guarantees hazard pay of at least 
Php500 per day, and requires employers to provide additional 
insurance coverage for work-related injury, illness, disability, or death.
This legislative measure is not just about improving wages or 
benefits. It is about affirming the dignity and rights of those whose 
work upholds the foundations of the integrity of the free press. By 
ensuring just labor standards for media workers, the State affirms its 
commitment to transparency, truth, and accountability.
In sum, this bill is a long-overdue response to the urgent and 
persistent plight of Filipino journalists and media professionals.
ERWIN* TULFO


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
25 JUL -8 P5 :23
)
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 249
Introduced by Senator Erwin Tulfo
AN ACT
PROTECTING THE WELFARE OF WORKERS IN 
THE MEDIA AND NEWS INDUSTRY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18 
19
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the 
“Magna Carta for Workers in the Media and News Industry Act. ”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the 
State to afford full protection to labor and promote full employment 
and equality of employment opportunities for all and to recognize the 
vital role of media praetitioners in a demoeratic society. They shall be 
entitled to security of tenure, humane conditions of work, and a living 
wage.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Aet:
a. 
Employer or principal refers to any person, natural or juridical, 
including contractor or subcontractor, who engages or hires the 
services of a worker in the news industry;
b. 
Media and News industry refers to the industry engaged in any 
form of mass media that focuses on gathering information, 
delivering news to the public, which include print media, 
broadeast news, and online platforms; and


1
2
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
c. Worker refers to an employee hired by the employer or an 
independent contractor engaged by the principal to render 
services for the media and news industry.
SEC. 4. Minimum Compensation. -The minimum wage of a 
worker shall not be less than the applicable minimum wage in the 
region where the worker is hired. Wages shall be paid on time, as 
agreed upon in the contract, directly to the worker. The employer or 
principal shall not make any deductions from the wages unless 
otherwise agreed upon by the parties or required or allowed by law. 
The employer or principal shall at all times provide the worker with a 
copy of the pay slip containing the amount paid, and indicating all 
deductions made, if any.
SEC. 5. Overtime and Night Shift Differential Pay. - For work 
beyond eight (8) hours a day, a worker shall be entitled to overtime pay 
unless it is already incorporated in the agreement or employment 
contract which stipulates a higher compensation. A worker shall also 
be entitled to night shift differential unless the same is incorporated in 
the agreement or employment contract which stipulates a higher 
compensation.
SEC. 6. Regularization and Security of Tenure. - A worker shall 
be deemed as a regular employee after six (6) months from the start of 
employment, regardless of the nature of employment. The six-month 
period shall be counted cumulatively if a worker is repeatedly engaged 
for shorter periods.
An employer or principal shall not terminate the services of a 
worker except for just and/or authorized causes with the observance of 
due process.
SEC. 7. Hazard Allowance. - A worker who is required to 
physically report for work in dangerous areas such as strife-tom or 
embattled areas, distressed or isolated stations, disease-infested areas


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
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 (P500.00) per day.
SEC. 8. Mandatory Additional Insurance Benefits. - Employers 
or principals shall provide additional insurance coverage to media 
workers as follows:
a. Medical insurance benefit of not less than One Hundred 
Thousand Pesos (PhP 100,000);
b. Disability benefit of not less than Two Hundred Thousand 
Pesos (PhP 200,000) for a worker who shall suffer total or 
partial permanent disability, arising from any injury sustained 
during work hours; and
c. Death benefit of not less than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(PhP 200,000).
SEC. 9. Settlement of Disputes. - All labor-related disputes shall 
be elevated to the Department of Labor and Employment Regional 
Office which has jurisdiction over the workplace.
SEC. 10. Penalties.- Any person who violates any section of this 
Act shall be fined as follows:
(a) 
Not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PI00,000) for 
the first offense;
(b) 
Not less than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000) for 
the second offense; and
(c) 
Not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000) for 
the third and succeeding offenses.


10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
These fines are without prejudice to the imposition of other 
penalties under existing laws.
If the violation is committed by a corporation, trust or firm, 
partnership, association or any other entity, the fines shall be imposed 
upon the entity's responsible officers, including, but not limited to, the 
executive producer, producer, production manager, and business unit 
manager.
SEC.ll. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within a non­
extendible period of ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, 
the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in 
consultation with non-govemment organizations, and other 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for 
the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC. 12. Construction in Favor of Labor. — All doubts in the 
implementation and interpretation of the provisions of this Act, 
including its implementing rules and regulations, shall be resolved in 
favor of labor.
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of 
this Act be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions 
and parts hereof, insofar as they are separable from the invalid ones, 
shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, 
issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent 
with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,