MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has signed into law a measure that aims to protect the welfare of workers in the movie and television industry.
According to the Presidential Communications Office on Tuesday, the Chief Executive signed
Republic Act 11996 or the “Eddie Garcia Law”, which stemmed from the death of actor Eddie Garcia.
The new law has taken into account the cause of the Filipino move icon’s death after figuring in an accident while shooting for a television show.
Under the law, the worker and the employer or principal shall execute an agreement or an employment contract in a language or dialect understood by both parties before the commencement of service.
“No agreement or employment contract shall discriminate against a worker who has contracts or projects with other production outfits unless exclusivity is specified in the contract, nor shall any person perform any act involving preference based on race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin, or religion, which has the purpose or effect of nullifying the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise on an equal footing of any human right or fundamental freedom,” stated in the law.
The measure further stated that workers shall be protected by their employers or principal in the workplace.
It also indicates the need for the implementation of work hours, wages and other wage-related benefits, social security and welfare benefits, basic necessity, health and safety, working conditions and standards, and insurance.
The protection of the movie and television workers should also be in line with the Labor Code of the Philippines or Presidential Decree No. 442 as amended, and Republic Act No. 11058 or the “Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations ” and other applicable laws.
In terms of the number of working hours, it states that they shall be based on the terms and conditions set in the agreement or employment contract and other stipulations signed with the employer or principal.
When it comes to wages, the minimum wage of a worker shall not be less than the applicable minimum wage in the region where the worker is hired and wages shall be paid on time, as agreed upon in the contract, directly to the worker./PN
