DOLE says film and TV workers can work max of 12 hours

By now we know that working behind the scenes is not as glamorous as it seems.

With long work hours and tight deadlines, a job in the film and television industry is one of the most tedious in the world.

The unhealthy working environment was mentioned in the recent deaths of award-winning directors Wenn Deramas and Francis Pasion.

On Wed, Apr 27 the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, issued Advisory No. 04 series of 2016, regulating the working hours of movie and television industry workers.

It provides, among others, that the actual work hours of movie and TV industry workers or talents shall not exceed eight hours a day.

Just like office employees, film and television workers may render overtime but it “shall not exceed 12 hours in any 24-hour period,”

The advisory is meant to safeguard the health and well-being of workers.

“Even machines need rest,” Baldoz said in a press release “If we ensure that our employees are in top shape, then we can expect also their optimum work performance and efficient work output.”

The waiting time spent by workers or talents during production period shall be considered as working time if they are required or engaged to wait.

Moreover, movie and TV workers must also be also covered by Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, SSS, Employees’ Compensation Program and other laws.

The advisory was crafted by DOLE with the help of representatives from the film and television industry, including Leo Martinez, director general of Film Academy of the Philippines and Rez Cortez, president of Actor’s Guild. TV networks were also well-represented.