Actor Eddie Garcia —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
No to “karoshi,” or demise by overwork because the Japanese name it.
This, in essence, is what Senate Bill No. 2505, or the proposed “Eddie Garcia Law” seeks to deal with, in addition to different “abusive” work situations within the leisure business.
“This [bill] is a welcome development 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 through hearings in both the House and the Senate and considering the perspectives of stakeholders, we believe it’s a reasonable compromise for achieving a decent work output.”
Noting the proposed regulation’s significance to the lives of an estimated 20,000 business staff, the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI) referred to as for its quick passage.
“We, DGPI members, welcome and pray that the Eddie Garcia Bill becomes a law soon. This cannot be delayed as it affects an entire industry,” DGPI president Mark Meily mentioned in a separate assertion given this author on the identical day.
“The passage of the Eddie Garcia Bill is long overdue,” Anne Monzon, president of the Lupon ng Pilipinong Sinematograpo (LPS), instructed this author on Dec. 7. “The fact that current labor laws do not meet the specific needs of workers in these industries leaves much to be desired.”
It’s been 4 years because the demise 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 House (together with one authored by his congressman-stepson 1-Pacman occasion listing Rep. Mikee Romero) to guard staff within the leisure business.
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 Movies” Fernando Poe Jr., would additionally wish to be a cosponsor of the invoice. With 5 certain votes from them, the proposed “Eddie Garcia Law” is predicted to breeze by the Senate.
Mark Meily, president of Directors’ Guild of the Philippines Inc. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO, Anne Monzon
Contentious subject
The House model of the invoice (House Bill 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 total of 60 hours in a week.”
“While we favor the side of workers, DGPI has to consider the plight of the producers, so we do not agree to the content of the proposed [House] bill in terms of working hours of up to 12 hours only,” Meily mentioned.
Although initially, the completely different stakeholders had opposing views on the difficulty, their newest stand tends to be open to the 8-14-hour workday “exclusive of meal periods” offered by the Senate model. However, some nonetheless seem to have reservations relating to this as a result of they like that the mentioned work hours be “inclusive” of dinner time.
Health, vitality prioritized
“Our goal has always been to strike a harmonious balance between creative output and performers’ well-being,” Dantes mentioned. “By capping working hours, we aim to consistently operate at our best, enriching the artistic and cultural landscape, while prioritizing health and vitality.”
Monzon added: “Coming from the pandemic, film, TV and advertising workers were able to prove that healthy and sustainable working hours are completely doable. LPS—with our 62 cinematographer-members and our teams of gaffers, assistant cameramen and women, key grips, camera operators and technical crew—stands with the IGA in advocating for a hard stop at 16 hours for a shoot day to ensure the health, well-being and safety of our workers.”
IGA, or Inter-Guild Alliance, is the umbrella group of the guilds (actors, administrators, editors, manufacturing designers, writers, stuntmen, producers and assistant administrators).
Aside from regulating prolonged work hours, the proposed “Eddie Garcia Law” has provisions that guarantee film and TV staff of first rate revenue, and safety from abuse, harassment, hazardous working situations and financial exploitation.
“It is high time that we regulate this longstanding practice (prolonged work hours) and we need to institute measures to impose standards and bring about change,” Estrada mentioned. “We cannot allow ‘karoshi’ … to continue in our film and TV industry.”
He continued: “We really owe the success of every film or TV production to these workers. This is our tribute not just to ‘Manoy,’ but also to the hardworking staff. Let us immortalize the legacy of ‘Manoy’ Eddie Garcia through this bill.”
Crucial function
“It is important to realize that film and television production has been a contributor to the country’s economy and one of the first in Asia, and yet, a bill like this came about only recently,” Meily mentioned.
“It is lamenting that oftentimes, the excuse of ‘walang budget and gastos lang yan, kailangan magtipid’ has had more weight in lieu of safety standards and the welfare of media workers. We, at DGPI, recognize that a media worker that thrives in a happy and safe working environment contributes to the success of any project.”
Monzon additional identified that the movie, TV and promoting industries not solely “provide significant income for Filipinos, but are important means of preserving and developing national culture.”
Anne Monzon, president of Lupon ng Pilipinong Sinematograpo —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
“Our roles as partners in production are crucial to the entertainment industry’s success,” Dantes added. “We understand the importance of delivering captivating performances that breathe life into the stories that we tell.”
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 turn out to be the “Eddie Garcia Law.”
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“Workers have long advocated for this,” Dantes identified. “If and when the bill is passed, it would undoubtedly be a win for the industry.” INQ