House approves ‘Eddie Garcia bill’ on second reading

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 31) — The bill aiming to institute the protection of welfare of workers in the film, television and radio entertainment industry hurdled the second reading at the House of Representatives on Monday.

Titled after late veteran actor Eddie Garcia who died in 2019 after suffering a neck injury while shooting for a television series, House Bill 1270 seeks to give workers opportunities for “gainful employment and a decent income, and protect them from abuse, harassment, hazardous working conditions and economic exploitation.”

According to the bill’s author Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, productions would go from 16 to 42 continuous hours per set based on the data from the Directors Guild of the Philippines. 

“The movie and television industry is one of the many industries whose work hours are unorthodox, owing to the nature of the industry itself. They clock in depending on the needs of the shoot and work extra for preparations prior,” he said in the bill’s explanatory note.

“As they do not follow the regular eight to five work hours, there is a need to regulate the working conditions of this industry to avoid cases of overworking among their workforce," he added.

The bill also states that overtime work will be taken into consideration and should not exceed more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period.

The bill also aims to provide proper compensation and facilities, such as transportation and accommodation, for talents and workers in location shoots, as well as social service benefits.