MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued an advisory to regulate working hours in the movie and television industry to safeguard the welfare of its workers.
On Wednesday, April 27, DOLE issued Labor Advisory No. 04 series of 2016, providing that actual working hours for workers or talents in the industry “shall not exceed 8 hours in a day.”
If required to work beyond 8 hours, his or her work “shall not exceed 12 hours in any 24-hour period,” the advisory added.
Waiting time during production period “shall be considered as working time” if workers/talents are required or engaged to wait, it noted.
The labor department also said that normal hours of work for elderly workers/talents (60 years old and above) shall not exceed 8 hours in a day. Meanwhile, working hours for children in the industry should be in line with Republic Act 9231, which sets rules for the working child and affords stronger protection against child abuse.
On Thursday, DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, in a press release, said that this new regulation would protect the health and well-being of workers. She also assuaged fears that this would affect production output.
“Organizations must uphold the best interest of their human resources. Even machines need rest,” said Baldoz. “If we ensure that our employees are in top shape, then we can expect also their optimum work performance and efficient work output.”
The DOLE heeded appeals from the movie and TV industry, following the deaths of two award-winning directors early this year. (READ: Directors, actors speak out vs long movie, TV working hours)
Safe, healthful working conditions
The advisory, said Baldoz, applies to all workers in the movie and television industry.
This includes “cameramen/editors, production assistants, teleprompter operators/editors, VTR persons/editors, newscasters/anchors, managers, reporters, news correspondents, and such other individual, whether employed in a network or production outfit, regardless of the mode of compensation and length of service or engagement.”
She also said that provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards must be strictly observed.
Adequate transportation facilities to and from the location or set should be provided, as well as safe, adequate and free accommodation if work is on location or set.
“If no transportation is provided to the worker, any costs incurred by the worker shall be reimbursed by the network, company, or outfit,” Baldoz said.
Movie and TV workers must also be afforded work benefits. “Their pay and related benefits, regardless of the nature of engagement, shall not be lower than the minimum standards under the Labor Code, as amended and other laws, rules and regulations,” Baldoz said.
This industry's compliance with labor standards would be enforced by the DOLE regional office that has jurisdiction over the workplace or principal office of the TV network or movie production outfit, said the advisory.
Any violation of the provisions of the employment agreement or talent contract, as well as complaints filed, shall be subject to DOLE’s 30-day conciliation-mediation services or the Single Entry Approach method.
Meanwhile, contracting and subcontracting arrangements, including recruitment and placement of workers, shall be guided by appropriate DOLE orders.
The advisory was crafted by DOLE in coordination with representatives of the movie and TV industry, as well as TV networks. – Rappler.com