House Approves Eddie Garcia Bill on 2nd Reading
Photo Credit: House of Representatives of the Philippines Facebook Page
The House of Representatives has approved on second reading the proposed Eddie Garcia Act (House Bill 7762), which seeks to prescribe safe working conditions and protocols in the film, television and radio entertainment industries.
The measure is a consolidation of eight proposals, the filing of which stemmed from the June 20, 2019 death of veteran actor Eddie Garcia.
Garcia suffered cervical cracks and fractures after he tripped at a production set while filming for a television series. He was comatose for 12 days before he died from his injuries.
Deputy Speaker and 1Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, one of the authors of the measure and stepson of Garcia, said the incident is a reminder on the importance of safety protocols in any film or entertainment production set.
Romero said workplace safety and health protocols should be prioritized to prevent personal injury, illness or even death from incidents occurring at the set.
Under the bill, any employer in the entertainment industry and his employee or independent contractor shall have a contract or agreement specifying the terms and details of employment such as work hours, compensation, benefits and job duration.
The normal length of work shall be eight hours, which can be extended to a maximum of 12 hours, provided the worker is given overtime pay. The salary should not be less than the minimum wage.
The worker shall be covered by social security, Pag-ibig Fund and health insurance benefits.
The employment of minors will be covered by relevant laws on the protection of children against exploitation and abuse.
The employer is required to follow safety and health protocols under existing laws, including the employment of occupational safety and health officers at production sites.
The measure is a consolidation of eight proposals, the filing of which stemmed from the June 20, 2019 death of veteran actor Eddie Garcia.
Garcia suffered cervical cracks and fractures after he tripped at a production set while filming for a television series. He was comatose for 12 days before he died from his injuries.
Deputy Speaker and 1Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, one of the authors of the measure and stepson of Garcia, said the incident is a reminder on the importance of safety protocols in any film or entertainment production set.
Romero said workplace safety and health protocols should be prioritized to prevent personal injury, illness or even death from incidents occurring at the set.
Under the bill, any employer in the entertainment industry and his employee or independent contractor shall have a contract or agreement specifying the terms and details of employment such as work hours, compensation, benefits and job duration.
The normal length of work shall be eight hours, which can be extended to a maximum of 12 hours, provided the worker is given overtime pay. The salary should not be less than the minimum wage.
The worker shall be covered by social security, Pag-ibig Fund and health insurance benefits.
The employment of minors will be covered by relevant laws on the protection of children against exploitation and abuse.
The employer is required to follow safety and health protocols under existing laws, including the employment of occupational safety and health officers at production sites.
