Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by:  REP. SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Media workers, as "purveyors of truth," are acknowledged for their 
dedication in informing the public, often at great personal risk, especially in a 
country known for challenges to press freedom. 
This proposed bill seeks to extend full protection to media workers as 
laborers, consistent with the constitutional mandate to promote full 
employment, equality of employment opportunities, security of tenure, 
humane conditions of work, and a living wage for all workers. 
It reiterates the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech, 
expression, and the press, and argues that enhancing the welfare of media 
workers is essential to upholding these fundamental rights. Establishing a 
mechanism to ensure media workers receive a living wage comparable to other 
professions requiring similar qualifications, taking into account the cost of 
living and socio-economic imperatives. 
This bill, creating the Magna Carta of Media Workers, is an attempt to 
address the precarious working conditions and vulnerabilities faced by media 
practitioners in the Philippines. It seeks to provide them with the necessary 
labor protections, benefits, and a safer environment, recognizing that a well-
supported and protected media workforce is essential for a robust democracy 
and an informed citizenry.  
In view of the aforesaid, the approval of this measure is hereby earnestly 
sought. 
SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR.       
August 11, 2025
9:57 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by:  REP. SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR. 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE MAGNA CARTA FOR MEDIA WORKERS, 
PROVIDING FOR THEIR RIGHTS, BENEFITS, AND PROTECTION, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "The Magna Carta 
for Media Workers Act of 2025." 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to uphold and protect the fundamental rights of media workers, recognizing 
their vital role in a democratic society in informing the public, fostering public 
discourse, and holding power accountable. The State shall ensure their 
economic security, promote their professional growth, guarantee their safety, 
and safeguard their independence and freedom from harassment, 
intimidation, and undue influence. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purpose of this Act, the following 
terms shall mean: 
•
Media Worker. Refers to any person who is employed, engaged, or
contracted by a media entity, whether on a full-time, part-time, or
freelance basis, and whose primary livelihood is derived from the
gathering, writing, editing, producing, broadcasting, publishing, or
disseminating news, information, or public affairs content across all
platforms, including print, broadcast (television and radio), and digital
media. This includes, but is not limited to, reporters, correspondents,
editors, photojournalists, videographers, camerapersons, news
writers, news researchers, news anchors, program hosts, layout
artists, graphic designers, social media managers involved in news
dissemination, and technical staff directly involved in news
production.
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•   Media Entity. Refers to any person, natural or juridical, engaged in the 
business 
of 
gathering, 
producing, 
and 
disseminating 
news, 
information, or public affairs content through any medium, including 
newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television networks, online 
news sites, and other digital platforms. 
•   Hazard Pay. Additional compensation given to media workers who are 
exposed to danger, risk, or hardship in the performance of their 
duties. 
•   Overtime Pay. Additional compensation for work performed beyond 
the regular working hours. 
•   Night Differential. Additional compensation for work performed 
between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. 
•   Regular Employment. Employment status granted to a media worker 
who has rendered at least six (6) months of continuous service, 
whether or not continuous, in the same media entity, and whose work 
is necessary and desirable to the usual business or trade of the media 
entity. 
•   Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). An agreement between a 
media entity and the duly recognized collective bargaining agent of its 
media workers concerning wages, hours of work, and other terms and 
conditions of employment. 
 
SEC. 4. Basic Rights and Guarantees. - Media workers shall be entitled 
to the following basic rights and guarantees: 
a) Security of Tenure. No media worker shall be dismissed, suspended, or  
transferred without just and authorized cause and due process as 
provided by law. 
b) Right to Self-Organization. Media workers shall have the right to form, 
join, or assist labor organizations of their own choosing for purposes of 
collective bargaining and mutual aid and protection. 
c) Right to Collective Bargaining. Media workers shall have the right to 
engage in collective bargaining with their employers to determine their 
wages, hours of work, and other terms and conditions of employment. 
d) Freedom from Harassment and Intimidation. Media workers shall be 
free from any form of harassment, intimidation, coercion, or violence in 
the performance of their duties. The State shall ensure their protection 
against such acts. 
e) Freedom of Expression and of the Press. Media workers shall enjoy full 
freedom of expression and of the press, and shall not be subjected to 
censorship, prior restraint, or any form of interference in the exercise 
of their profession, except as may be provided by law. 


f)   Right to Conscientious Objection. Media workers shall have the right to 
refuse to produce, publish, or disseminate any material that is contrary 
to their conscience, professional ethics, or journalistic standards, 
without fear of reprisal. 
 
SEC. 5. Wages and Other Benefits. - Media workers shall be entitled to 
the following wages and benefits: 
•   Minimum Wage. The Secretary of Labor and Employment, in 
consultation with representatives from media workers' organizations 
and media entities, shall periodically review and set a national 
minimum wage for media workers, taking into consideration the cost of 
living, prevailing wage rates, and the economic conditions of the 
industry. 
•   Overtime Pay. Media workers shall be entitled to overtime pay for work 
rendered beyond eight (8) hours a day, at the rates prescribed by 
existing labor laws. 
•   Night Differential. Media workers shall be entitled to night differential 
pay for work rendered between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, at the rates 
prescribed by existing labor laws. 
•   Hazard Pay. Media workers assigned to dangerous areas or situations, 
or those covering hazardous events, shall be entitled to hazard pay 
equivalent to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of their basic salary for 
the duration of such assignment. The Department of Labor and 
Employment shall issue guidelines for the determination of dangerous 
areas or situations. 
•   Health and Safety. Media entities shall provide a safe and healthy 
working environment for their media workers, including adequate 
safety equipment, health insurance, and regular health check-ups. 
They shall also ensure access to psychosocial support and trauma 
counseling, especially for those covering traumatic events. 
•   Social Protection. Media workers shall be covered by the Social Security 
System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), 
and Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), and other social 
protection programs as provided by law. Media entities shall ensure 
timely and correct remittances of contributions. 
•   Training and Development. Media entities shall provide opportunities 
for continuous professional development and training for their media 
workers to enhance their skills and knowledge. 
•   Retirement Benefits. Media workers shall be entitled to retirement 
benefits as provided by law and/or collective bargaining agreements. 


 
SEC. 6. Working Hours. - The regular working hours of media workers 
shall not exceed eight (8) hours a day. Any work performed beyond this period 
shall be compensated with overtime pay. 
 
SEC. 7. Freelance Media Workers. - Freelance media workers shall be 
entitled to fair and prompt compensation for their work, and shall be covered 
by appropriate contracts that clearly define the terms of engagement, 
intellectual property rights, and payment schedules. The Department of Labor 
and Employment shall issue guidelines to ensure fair treatment and 
protection of freelance media workers. 
 
SEC. 8. Protection Against Violence and Impunity. - The State shall take 
all necessary measures to protect media workers from violence, threats, and 
intimidation, and to ensure that perpetrators of such acts are held 
accountable. This shall include, but not be limited to, prompt and impartial 
investigation of cases involving attacks against media workers, prosecution of 
offenders, and provision of legal and security assistance to victims and their 
families. 
 
SEC. 9. Media Workers' Welfare and Development Fund. - There shall be 
established a Media Workers' Welfare and Development Fund, to be 
administered by the Department of Labor and Employment, in consultation 
with media workers' organizations. The Fund shall be sourced from 
appropriations by the government and donations from private entities, and 
shall be used for the following purposes: 
a) Legal assistance to media workers facing charges or threats related 
to their work 
b) Financial assistance to media workers and their families in times of 
crisis, illness, or death 
c) Training and capacity-building programs for media workers. 
d) Support for independent media organizations and initiatives that 
promote press freedom and media welfare. 
 
SEC. 10. Penal Provisions. - Any person or entity who violates any 
provision of this Act shall be penalized in accordance with existing labor laws 
and other relevant laws. If the violation results in the death or serious injury 
of a media worker, the penalties under the Revised Penal Code and other 
special laws shall apply. 
 
SEC. 11.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Labor and Employment, in 
coordination 
with 
the 
Department 
of 
Justice, 
the 
Presidential 
Communications Operations Office, and representatives from media workers' 
organizations and media entities, shall formulate and issue the necessary 
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 


 
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected thereby shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and 
regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers 
of general circulation. 
 
Approved,