House Bill 6543 seeks to provide additional benefits, insurance, and hazard pay for media workers, especially for those on the field, as their job nature comes with dangerous situations.
House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar filed House Bill (HB) 6543 providing medical insurance, benefits and tax-free hazard pay for journalists. It seeks to extend benefits to all permanent, temporary, contractual, and casual journalists by media entities in the Philippines, including freelance journalists.
Journalists from around the world face serious risks every day in doing their jobs. They can face intimidation, attacks, and even walking through a series of weathers in order to deliver information and news to the public. They are the eyes and ears of the world and the public relies on them when it comes to updates on what is happening around them.
Villar cited the nature of journalists’ jobs-- put in perilous situations, with some risking their lives to bring the public news. Hence the reason why she filed HB 6543.
Proposed benefits
Under the bill, the proposed additional benefits include P350,000 in disability benefits and a P300,000 provision if a media practitioner is injured or dies on the job. A P200,000 reimbursement fee to cover medical costs for journalists who need to be hospitalized due to work-related injuries.
Media personnel assigned to dangerous areas will also receive hazard pay equal to at least 25 percent of their gross monthly basic salary.
Villar also wants the country's Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System to develop a freelance journalist insurance program.
For media companies, failure to comply with the law will result in a fine ranging from P300,000 to P500,000 and/or imprisonment for a year up to six years.
If this becomes law, the GSIS, SSS and the Philippine Information Agency will develop implementing rules and regulations (IRR) with the assistance of the National Press Club, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, and the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas, among other registered media organizations.
“It is time that journalists deserve the respect not only for the type of work that they are doing but also in the form of benefits that are long overdue. While some may not enjoy decent wages, it is necessary that journalists enjoy these perks as they have families that rely on them.” Villar said.
Tags: #Media, #Journalists, #Benefits, #Protection