HOUSE bill  No. 454 co-authored by Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia seeking to give working media men protection, security and benefits  passed in the House of Representatives on November 21 received wide support from local media practitioners.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez said the bill  titled “Media Workers Welfare Act” bill, is the result of the five combined similar bills pushing for the welfare of workers in the media industry.

Fourth District Congressman De Venecia and 39 other lawmakers co-authored the bill.

Congressman De Venecia is a former media man himself having been a former columnist/editor of the Young Star section of the Philippine Star and editor of the Chalk Magazine.

Under House Bill 454, the minimum compensation for media workers should not be lower than the applicable minimum wage set  by the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board.

And there will be overtime and night shift pay for them based on the Labor Code and similar other laws, should be covered by SSS, Pag-IBIG Fund and PhilHelath, whose monthly premiums shall be shared by media workers and employers and paid P500 daily hazard pay, provided protective gears and P200,000 insurance.

The bill also requires regularization of employees six months after job start.

Under the proposed law, media personnel cannot just be removed by their employers unless for serious and justifiable causes and if this happens, their removal from work will pass through appropriate legal processes.

Meanwhile, the Commission of Human Rights said it hopes the community broadcast media and publications will also be financially supported so they may be in a position to implement the bill’s provisions. (Leonardo Micua)

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