Dingdong Dantes, chair of League of Filipino Actors (Aktor) —GMA NETWORK
No to “karoshi,” or loss of life by overwork because the Japanese name it.
This, in essence, is what Senate Invoice No. 2505, or the proposed “Eddie Garcia Legislation” seeks to handle, in addition to different “abusive” work situations within the leisure trade.
“This [bill] is a welcome growth for the sector,” mentioned actor Dingdong Dantes, who’s the chair of the League of Filipino Actors (Aktor), in an announcement despatched to this author on Dec. 6. “After going by hearings in each the Home and the Senate and contemplating the views of stakeholders, we consider it’s an affordable compromise for attaining a good work output.”
Noting the proposed regulation’s significance to the lives of an estimated 20,000 trade employees, the Administrators’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI) known as for its instant passage.
“We, DGPI members, welcome and pray that the Eddie Garcia Invoice turns into a regulation quickly. This can’t be delayed because it impacts a whole trade,” DGPI president Mark Meily mentioned in a separate assertion given this author on the identical day.
“The passage of the Eddie Garcia Invoice is lengthy overdue,” Anne Monzon, president of the Lupon ng Pilipinong Sinematograpo (LPS), informed this author on Dec. 7. “The truth that present labor legal guidelines don’t meet the particular wants of employees in these industries leaves a lot to be desired.”
It’s been 4 years for the reason that loss of life of display screen legend Eddie Garcia following an accident whereas filming a teleserye. This prompted the submitting of a number of measures in each Senate and the Home (together with one authored by his congressman-stepson 1-Pacman social gathering record Rep. Mikee Romero) to guard employees within the leisure trade.
The invoice endorsed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada for plenary consideration this week is a consolidation of comparable measures filed by him and different actor-lawmakers Lito Lapid, Robin Padilla and Bong Revilla.
Estrada, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor, mentioned in his sponsorship speech that Sen. Grace Poe, daughter of the late “King of Philippine Films” Fernando Poe Jr., would additionally prefer to be a cosponsor of the invoice. With 5 certain votes from them, the proposed “Eddie Garcia Legislation” is anticipated to breeze by the Senate.
Mark Meily, president of Administrators’ Guild of the Philippines Inc. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Anne Monzon,
Contentious problem
The Home model of the invoice (Home Invoice No. 1270), which was handed on third studying final February, mandates a traditional eight-hour workday that may lengthen to 12 hours, whereas SB 2505, nonetheless up for deliberations, permits an extended 8-14 hours of labor per day, “or a complete of 60 hours in every week.”
“Whereas we favor the aspect of employees, DGPI has to think about the plight of the producers, so we don’t conform to the content material of the proposed [House] invoice by way of working hours of as much as 12 hours solely,” Meily mentioned.
Though initially, the completely different stakeholders had opposing views on the problem, their newest stand tends to be open to the 8-14-hour workday “unique of meal intervals” supplied by the Senate model. Nonetheless, some nonetheless seem to have reservations concerning this as a result of they like that the mentioned work hours be “inclusive” of time for supper.
Well being, vitality prioritized
“Our purpose has all the time been to strike a harmonious stability between inventive output and performers’ well-being,” Dantes mentioned. “By capping working hours, we purpose to persistently function at our greatest, enriching the inventive and cultural panorama, whereas prioritizing well being and vitality.”
Monzon added: “Coming from the pandemic, movie, TV and promoting employees have been capable of show that wholesome and sustainable working hours are fully doable. LPS—with our 62 cinematographer-members and our groups of gaffers, assistant cameramen and girls, key grips, digicam operators and technical crew—stands with the IGA in advocating for a tough cease at 16 hours for a shoot day to make sure the well being, well-being and security of our employees.”
IGA, or Inter-Guild Alliance, is the umbrella group of the guilds (actors, administrators, editors, manufacturing designers, writers, stuntmen, producers and assistant administrators).
Apart from regulating prolonged work hours, the proposed “Eddie Garcia Legislation” has provisions that guarantee film and TV employees of respectable earnings, and safety from abuse, harassment, hazardous working situations and financial exploitation.
“It’s excessive time that we regulate this longstanding observe (extended work hours) and we have to institute measures to impose requirements and produce about change,” Estrada mentioned. “We can’t enable ‘karoshi’ … to proceed in our movie and TV trade.”
He continued: “We actually owe the success of each movie or TV manufacturing to those employees. That is our tribute not simply to ‘Manoy,’ but in addition to the hardworking employees. Allow us to immortalize the legacy of ‘Manoy’ Eddie Garcia by this invoice.”
Essential function
“It is very important notice that movie and tv manufacturing has been a contributor to the nation’s financial system and one of many first in Asia, and but, a invoice like this happened solely lately,” Meily mentioned.
“It’s lamenting that oftentimes, the excuse of ‘walang funds and gastos lang yan, kailangan magtipid’ has had extra weight in lieu of security requirements and the welfare of media employees. We, at DGPI, acknowledge {that a} media employee that thrives in a cheerful and protected working surroundings contributes to the success of any venture.”
Monzon additional identified that the movie, TV and promoting industries not solely “present important earnings for Filipinos, however are necessary technique of preserving and creating nationwide tradition.”
Anne Monzon, president of Lupon ng Pilipinong Sinematograpo —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
“Our roles as companions in manufacturing are essential to the leisure trade’s success,” Dantes added. “We perceive the significance of delivering charming performances that breathe life into the tales that we inform.”
Grateful and honored for the chance to be heard within the invoice growth course of, he pledged Aktor’s dedication and help to make sure that HB 1270 and SB 2505 change into the “Eddie Garcia Legislation.”
“Staff have lengthy advocated for this,” Dantes identified. “If and when the invoice is handed, it will undoubtedly be a win for the trade.” INQ