Journalists and other media practitioners covering conflict and disaster areas should be given insurance coverage and hazard pay, according to a bill filed by Senator Leila de Lima.
De Lima, chair of the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, filed a measure mandating additional insurance benefits for journalists, including for disability, health and hospitalization.
Journalism and news reporting is a "dangerous profession," and it is "imperative" that the people involved be given these benefits, said De Lima.
"Journalists face the problem of contractual labor, with no job security and no law-mandated benefits… they often do double jobs and work double time for their media company. These pose harm to their physical well-being," she said in a statement released on Monday.
Under her proposal, journalists are to be given disability benefits of P350,000 if they will suffer total or partial disability sustained during performance of duty; death benefits of P300,000 if they die in the line of duty, and; reimbursement of actual medical costs up to P200,000 if they are to be hospitalized or shall require medical attendance for injuries sustained while in the performance of duty.
This is on top of the current insurance benefits provided to regular employees of media outfits.
De Lima also suggested that the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System create and offer a special insurance program for freelance journalists.
Persons deployed in "difficult, strife-torn and embattled areas," among others, should be also be given a hazard pay equivalent to at least 25 percent of their gross monthly salary for the duration of such deployment. This will not be subjected to tax, according to the measure.
De Lima cited media reports that at least 9 journalists were killed under the Duterte administration.
The report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) also mentioned 16 libel cases, 14 cases of online harassment, 11 death threats, 6 slay attempts, 6 cases of harassment, 5 cases of intimidation, 4 cases of website attack, revoked registration or denied franchise renewal, verbal abuse, strafing, and police surveillance of journalists and media agencies.
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/09/18/hazard-pay-additional-insurance-coverage-for-journalists-sought
De Lima, chair of the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, filed a measure mandating additional insurance benefits for journalists, including for disability, health and hospitalization.
Journalism and news reporting is a "dangerous profession," and it is "imperative" that the people involved be given these benefits, said De Lima.
"Journalists face the problem of contractual labor, with no job security and no law-mandated benefits… they often do double jobs and work double time for their media company. These pose harm to their physical well-being," she said in a statement released on Monday.
Under her proposal, journalists are to be given disability benefits of P350,000 if they will suffer total or partial disability sustained during performance of duty; death benefits of P300,000 if they die in the line of duty, and; reimbursement of actual medical costs up to P200,000 if they are to be hospitalized or shall require medical attendance for injuries sustained while in the performance of duty.
This is on top of the current insurance benefits provided to regular employees of media outfits.
De Lima also suggested that the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System create and offer a special insurance program for freelance journalists.
Persons deployed in "difficult, strife-torn and embattled areas," among others, should be also be given a hazard pay equivalent to at least 25 percent of their gross monthly salary for the duration of such deployment. This will not be subjected to tax, according to the measure.
De Lima cited media reports that at least 9 journalists were killed under the Duterte administration.
The report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) also mentioned 16 libel cases, 14 cases of online harassment, 11 death threats, 6 slay attempts, 6 cases of harassment, 5 cases of intimidation, 4 cases of website attack, revoked registration or denied franchise renewal, verbal abuse, strafing, and police surveillance of journalists and media agencies.
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/09/18/hazard-pay-additional-insurance-coverage-for-journalists-sought
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