How networks exploit workers for your viewing pleasure : Duterte should look at the unfair labor practices of media companies

Among the other promises of President Duterte during the campaign was to put an end to Endo  or End of Contract hirings where employees are given their walking papers just before they become mandatorily eligible for regularization. The practice allows companies to save on the costs that they would have had to pay otherwise. But as to the workers, they move from one job to the next, employed but not fully enjoying the benefits that by law should be theirs.

When people talk about this issue, most of the discussion is focused on the big malls and factories with their huge manpower requirements. Very little attention is given to the other violators of the contractualization law either because they are too small, or because  like in the case of the television networks  they control the news.

While very few people realize it, many of the worst cases of contractual violations are happening in companies like ABSCBN. A few years ago the Lopez-owned network was sued for excluding talents in its collective bargaining agreement with their regular employees, despite the fact that some of these talents have been working with ABSCBN for more than a year.

Unlike malls or big factories, ABSCBN does not let go of their workers at the end of 3 or 6 months. Instead they hold on to them. Shuffling them from one project to another, each under a different contract. And all the while refusing to acknowledge that these people are already regular employees who are entitled to the benefits that the Labor Code says they should be getting.

What few realize is that the fantasy world the tune in to every night, or the splashy noontime shows with the big name stars and celebrities are built on the backs of exploited workers. These are the people who man the cameras, shine the lights, build the props, fetch the water, fix the hair, put on the make up, and all the other things that need to be done so that ABSCBN and the Lopezes can make their millions.

In defending its actions, ABSCBN pointed out that in order for the network to cope with fluctuating business conditions, (ABS-CBN) contracts on a case-to-case basis the services of persons who possess the necessary talent, skills, training, expertise or qualifications to meet the requirements of its programs and productions. These contracted persons are called talents and are considered independent contractors who offer their services to broadcasting companies.

But those familiar with the real situation know that the station is being clever in its use of the term case-to-case since the work these talents do are not only continuous, but in many occasions are being done simultaneously as well. For example, a production assistant working one show can get hired to do another even before the first one ends, and then another before the next which can go on for years without hope of regularization.

Now as far as being independent, these talents will never be allowed to work at any other job  much less with a rival station  while under contract with ABSCBN. Either you won't have time, or you are outright prohibited from taking on other jobs. This isn't like a regular contractual work where you can service two or more clients at the same time. When you are a talent with ABSCBN, you only work with ABSCBN. Until you die.

Newsinfo.net