Actors and production crew in the movies and television should work no more than 12 hours a day, an industry group on Monday told a Senate hearing on the death of screen legend Eddie Garcia on set two years ago.
Dingdong Dantes, head of the League of Filipino Actors or Aktor, told lawmakers that capping work hours would give cast and crew time to rest.
"Hindi lang ito sa mga staff, sa crew, sa actors, pero sa lahat ng manggagawa sa production," he said.
The so-called Eddie Garcia Law is being proposed to provide occupational safety and health standards for workers and talents in movie and television productions.
Dantes also urged the Senate panel to promote the health and safety of workers in the entertainment industry by ensuring the provision of healthy meals, safe and adequate accommodations, designated vehicles for emergencies, and insurance for stunts and other risky activities.
All actors, independent contractors, and freelancers in the production must also be given a written contract which stipulates their job description, salary and benefits to ensure that they will be properly compensated even when there is an abrupt cancellation of work, he said.
"With very much optimism, we strongly encourage everyone to continue working towards this belief that healthy actors and crew in a safe work environment will do phenomenal work in better, more reasonable work hours under the protections granted in clear and fair written contracts," Dantes said.
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