Freelancers, This Senate Bill Will Make Work Easier for You

Here’s some good news for all the freelancers out there. Senate Bill 1469, also known as the National Digital Careers Act, has been filed in the Philippine Senate with the goal of establishing a legal framework for freelancers and strengthening the practice as a whole.

The bill was filed by Senator Sonny Angara, who explained t the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will boost demand for freelance workers. What’s more, the Senator added that freelance work benefits both short-term, independent contractors as much as the companies who employ them.

“Freelancers are usually paid very well. They get to work at home, at their own pace, and without their micromanaging bosses looming over them. It's the perfect set up for people who qualify for these jobs,” the Senator said in a statement.

"On the part of the employers, hiring freelancers means lower costs on their part and they get to tap a huge talent pool, all of which would make a positive impact on their bottom line," he added.

The bill tasks the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) , the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority “to create, design and develop programs to ensure access to training, market and other forms of support or innovation strategies for digital careers.”

Under the bill, the DICT and Department of Budget and Management, Department of Public Works and Highways and other relevant departments and agencies must also prioritize the development of infrastructure that foes towards bringing local internet up to speed.

“But first we have to ensure that the infrastructure is in place, specifically to provide reliable, high-speed internet access in all areas of the country,” Angara added. A lot of our activities under the new normal will rely on internet connectivity—be it education or commerce, so this must be among our national priorities .”

Last year, Forbes ranked the country as the sixth-fastest growing market for freelance work in the entire world with a 35% growth compared to 2018. Do you think the industry will see further growth following the COVID-19 pandemic? Let us know in the comments.

For more of our stories on the ongoing crisis, click here. For the latest news and updates on COVID-19, check out reportr.world/covid-19.