By Amara Omeokwe and Hannah Lang WASHINGTON Labor unions are urging President Biden to move quickly to fulfill his campaign promise to champion organized labor and workers rights, including by pushing for legislation to bolster unionizing efforts. Already, Mr. Biden has taken steps applauded by several labor groups. Yet some of Mr. Biden s early moves could create conflict with business groups and their congressional allies. Mr. Biden has called on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and has picked Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, a former union leader with close ties to organized labor, for Labor Department secretary.
The bill defines ‘freelancer’ as “any person or entity hired or retained as an independent contractor to do work according to one’s own methods without being subjected to the control of the hiring party, except only as to the results of the work, and is hired to provide services in exchange for compensation.” (Pexels photo)
MANILA – A measure providing protection to freelancers in the country has hurdled committee level at the House of Representatives.
The House Committee on Labor and Employment, chaired by 1-PACMAN Rep. Enrico Pineda, approved this week the substitute bill that would advance the rights and welfare of freelancers, ensuring them entitlement to humane working conditions and a proper living wage.
Published January 19, 2021, 5:02 PM
The House of Representatives is stepping up its efforts to protect and safeguard the welfare and interest of the country’s freelancers, or self-employed workers, as a bill seeking to provide protection and incentives to freelancers has been endorsed for plenary approval.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Under the unnumbered substitute bill, a feelancer refers to any natural person or entity composed of no more than one natural person, whether incorporated under the Securities and Exchange Commission, registered as a sole proprietorship under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or registered as self-employed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), that is hired or retained as an independent contractor to do work according to one’s own methods and without being subjected to the control of the hiring party, except only as to the results of the work, and is hired to provide services in exchange for compensation.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In a virtual meeting, the House panel, chaired by 1-PACMAN partylist Rep. Enrico Pineda approved the “amended” draft committee report on House Bill No. 7909 or the proposed “Paid Pandemic Leave Law of 2020”.
The measure is authored by partylist Reps. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela); Carlos Isagani Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat and Ferdinand Gaite (Bayan Muna); France Castro (ACT Teachers) and Sarah Jane Elago (Kabataan).
It was Baguio Lone District Rep. Mark Go who moved for the approval of the draft committee report as amended by the panel.
In pushing for the final passage of the measure, Brosas laments that hundreds of thousands of Filipino workers have been placed in a very precarious situation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Published January 18, 2021, 11:03 PM
The House of Representatives on Monday passed on third and final reading a bill extending to members of the Fourth Estate full protection and equal benefits provided by the law to other workers.
With 217 affirmative and zero negative votes, the Lower House approved House Bill 8140 or the Media Workers Welfare Act.
Originally proposed by ACT-CIS Partylist Reps. Nina Taduran, Eric Go Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo, HB 8140 counted over 40 co-authors when finally passed by the Lower Chamber.
Authors credited 1PACMAN Partylist Rep. Enrico Pineda, chairman of the House Committee on Labor, for successfully steering the passage of the measure.