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MANILA, Philippines — A bill creating the Magna Carta for Workers in the Media and News Sector, which pushes for fair labor practices and proper benefits for media workers, has been filed before the House of Representatives.
Different sections of House Bill No. 1924, authored by Ang Probinsyano party-list Rep. Alfred Delos Santos, provide safeguards for media workers — workers in the communication arts, mass media, and journalism — to ensure that risks in their jobs are mitigated.
For example, Section 8 provides a prescribed normal number of working hours — eight hours per day or 40 hours per week — which means that work beyond these hours would be considered overtime work.
“The normal hours of work of a worker in the media and news sector, whether in the public or private sector, shall not exceed eight (8) hours per day or forty (40) hours per week,” Delos Santos said in his bill, copies of which were provided on Wednesday.
“Where the exigencies of the service so require, any worker in the media and news sector, whether in the public or private sector, may be required to render service beyond the regular eight (8) hours per day, inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and non-working holidays. In such cases, the worker in the media and news sector concerned shall be given additional compensation in accordance with existing laws on the matter,” it added.
If the said measure is passed, the following tasks of a media worker are considered part of official working hours:
- The worker in the media and news sector concerned is required to be present and on active duty at the prescribed place of work
- The worker in the media and news sector concerned is permitted to work, whether or not such work is done at the prescribed place of work; and
- The worker in the media and news sector concerned is required to work in places other than the prescribed place of work.
Workers will also be eligible to receive other benefits aside from what they are already getting from their respective offices or agencies, such as travel and hazard allowance, clothing allowance, housing allowance, compensation for injuries, on-call pay, and vehicle loans.
Section 7, on the other hand, protects media workers’ security of tenure, which requires media companies to terminate the employment of those with permanent positions only for “just and authorized causes.”
If proven by the proper authority, those wrongly dismissed from employment would be entitled to reinstatement without loss of seniority rights and back wages with 20 percent interest. Aggrieved workers who do not wish to be reinstated will still be eligible to receive their back wages.
Section 10 and Section 11, meanwhile, protect workers from interference, coercion, and discrimination.
“Workers in the media and news sector shall not be discriminated based on belief, civil status, ethnic grouping, religion, or sex in connection to the exercise of his/her profession,” the bill said.
Section 12, on the other hand, provides privileges for media workers who are involved in administrative proceedings:
- Be informed of the charges.
- Full access to evidence against him/her
- Defend himself/herself with or without the assistance of counsel of his/her choice;
- Be given adequate time to prepare his/her case, which shall, in no case, exceed thirty (30) days
- Appeal any adverse ruling to the proper authorities
- Cross-examine witnesses and to have subpoenas processed for the production of his/her own witnesses
- Reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred during his/her defense, in cases of exoneration or dismissal of the charges
- Such other rights provided by existing laws, rules, and regulation in relation to ensuring fairness and impartiality in administrative proceedings.
The right of media workers to join organizations and unions that are not against any law of the country is also emphasized. Furthermore, their role in nation-building is recognized as they may be consulted in terms of educating the next generation of media workers.
Delos Santos said that it is only fitting that media workers be given these benefits as many employees are working extended hours despite the perils of their jobs.
“Considering the peculiar hazards of their work, it is essential that they be given adequate safeguards and benefits in how they do their job. Oftentimes, not only are they involved in covering the events as they happen and letting the public know about it, they are considered part of these historical events themselves,” he said.
“However, despite the immensity of their tasks, they are often overworked and underpaid. Even when they are considered on call 24/7, they are oftentimes not given the compensation they deserve for these hours,” he added.
This is not the first time a Magna Carta for media workers was pushed in Congress. In 2013, Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez filed separate versions of the Magna Carta for Journalists.
However, Delos Santos’ version differs from that of Estrada and Rodriguez because it does not call for regulating journalists through an examination. Instead, the 2013 bill sought the creation of a Philippine Center for Journalists (PCJ), which would be in charge of accrediting journalists.
READ: 2 lawmakers seek to regulate journalism with ‘magna carta’