Freelancers like artists and educators may soon get hazard pay and legal protection under JV Ejercito’s proposed law

Senator JV Ejercito has filed Senate Bill No. 337, or the Freelance Workers Protection Act, which seeks to provide legal protections and benefits for freelance workers in the country.

Freelancers are individuals who offer services on a per-project or contractual basis, often without long-term employer commitments. They typically work in fields such as writing, graphic design, web development, marketing, education, media, and consulting.

Unlike full-time employees, freelancers are not entitled to standard employment benefits unless covered by a specific agreement.

Ejercito’s proposed measure aims to formally recognize freelance workers and ensure they receive fair treatment under the law. The bill requires written contracts between clients and freelancers, timely compensation, and access to additional benefits such as hazard pay and night differential, depending on the type of work performed.

According to Ejercito, the measure addresses long-standing challenges faced by freelancers, including non-payment, unclear terms of engagement, and lack of legal protection. “Karapatan at proteksyon para sa freelance workers,” the senator wrote in a public statement, stressing the importance of fair labor practices regardless of employment classification.

The bill also proposes penalties for clients or companies that fail to honor agreed-upon contracts or delay payments.

The Freelance Workers Protection Act is one of Senator Ejercito’s priority bills for the 20th Congress, alongside the Magna Carta of Barangays, Student Load Discount Privilege Act, OFW Legal Assistance Fund, Dagdag Sweldo Para sa mga Guro Act, Physician Pro-Bono Care Act, Defensive Driving Act, Crop Insurance Program for Small Farmers, Philippine Navy Archipelagic Defense Act, and a resolution addressing the proliferation of online gaming and lending.