DOLE to discuss 8-hour work limit in TV, film production

MANILA, Philippines – The movie and TV industry are now on the works to secure the welfare of the workers in the production industry.

Scriptwriter and author Ricky Lee believes that these changes in the industry are necessary.

“I think tama na magkaro’n ng cut off ang mga actors, but more than that I think ‘yong mas tamang mindset which is mahalaga ang mga pelikula at TV shows na ginagawa natin, but in the end mas mahalaga tayo,” he said in an interview aired in “TV Patrol” on Friday.

Actress Dina Bonnevie agrees to this, saying that celebrities and production people alike “kailangan magpahinga.”

In line with this, Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) has drafted and submitted a directive to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the implementation of the eight-hour work limit in movie and TV shoots.

In one of the sections of the draft, it was stated that the “normal hours of work” for the movie and television industry workers should be only eight hours a day. In case it needs to extend, the directive states that “the maximum hours of work shall not exceed fourteen hours in any 24-hour period.”

The “waiting time” where the employee “cannot use the time effectively and gainfully for his/her own purpose” is also included in the working hours, it added.

The directive is also pushing for the networks and companies to provide transportation to the staff going to and from the set or in case it could not be provided the expenses of the individual staff should be reimbursed.

On Monday, DOLE will start meeting the heads of different networks and companies for the effective implementation of the directive drafted by FAP.

On Friday, the Filipino Cinematographers also called for the end of “inhumane” working hours in the production industry, saying the welfare of the staff should be the top priority. – Joyce Jimenez