The government has taken a step ahead in helping improve the working condition and occupational safety and health of workers in the film industry and those involved in audio-visual production.
In a Joint Memorandum Circular with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment has set the guidelines governing the promotion of the welfare of audio-visual production workers.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and FDCP chief Mary Liza Dino on Friday led the signing of the circular which spells out the pertinent rules on workplace safety and health.
The guidelines lay out the rights and duties of all workers in the audio-visual production.
An audio-visual production is a sector within the audio-visual industry which involves the creation, development, and production of the audio-visual content regardless of platforms (television, film) and all other identified digital medium where it is shown.
“Workers in the audio-visual production are working on set or location and in projects sometimes without the full benefit of certain provisions in the workplace that affect safety and well being,” Bello explained.
“These guidelines will afford them adequate protection and compensation in case unfortunate incidents happen,” he added.
Bello said the guidelines also establish procedures for dealing with workplace hazard and enforce the law for compliance.
Dino, for her part, said the signing of the circular is a ‘victory’ for all employed in the audiovisual production. She also hailed the labor department’s unrelenting drive to provide occupational safety and health standards and lead in the administration of safety and health laws in all labor industries. Joel E. Zurbano
She said the new pro-worker policy is the fruit of hard work and perseverance of dedicated supporters of the Philippines movie industry and the valuable assistance from the government through the labor department.
Late last year, labor groups asked the government to strictly implement the Occupational Safety and Health Law and conduct a massive information drive to all stakeholders in various industries nationwide on work safety regulation concerns.
The group Defend Job Philippines (DJP) made to appeal addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte after the death of veteran film actor and director Eddie Garcia whose death was caused by an accident in Tondo, Manila while taping his latest television series.
The DJP said Garcia’s case “must serve as a strong reminder not just for companies in the broadcast and entertainment industry, but to the entire country as well, to ensure the holistic safety and welfare of their employees at all times and at all cost.”
The group also made the statement following a pronouncement of Department of Labor and Employment – National Capital Region director Sarah Mirasol during a recent hearing at the House of Representatives that network producer “failed to assign on-site safety and first aid personnel” and that the network “failed to submit an incident report with 24 hours after the accident.”
The group insisted that they are hoping that the death of Garcia will be a wake-up call for the present government to put the best interests of Filipino workers on top of its priority in terms of securing safe workplaces for all.