Sen. Revilla co-sponsors S. No. 1810 to protect, promote freelance workers during pandemic

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. on Tuesday said that the immediate passage into law of S. No. 1810, "Freelancers Protection Act" under Committee Report No. 109, to help freelance workers all over the country, especially those who have been displaced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes his authored bill, S. No. 644.

During his co-sponsorship speech, the veteran legislator stated that the increasing number of freelance workers over the years has allowed their sector's active participation in various industries. He also pointed out that with the advent of information and communication technology, thousands of online job prospects have been opened for Filipinos who also want to explore the convenience of working at home or any preferred workplace, the flexibility of time, and opportunity of working for foreign clients.

Bong Revilla also stated that according to the latest data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) contained in its report "Employment Situation in January 2019" released last July that about 26.2 percent of the total employed persons were self-employed without any paid employee or those who were engaged in self-employment, while the unpaid family workers made up 4.7 percent and the employer in own family-operated farm or business, 3.3 percent.

This piece of legislation ensures the rights of the workers as provided by the Philippine Constitution and the Labor Code, as well as by various international instruments and standards on labor to be implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Revilla asserted.

Revilla further added that the bill also intends to create a registry of freelancers or freelancers association. Among others, this will aid the government to gather accurate statistics and database that will, in turn, allow it to reach them for the provision of support and assistance.

"Umaasa ako na sa pamamagitan ng pagpasa natin ng panukalang batas na ito ay maiibsan ang mga suliranin na pinagdadaanan ng ating mga mamamayan at ng ating bansa sa kasalukuyan," Revilla said.