Film and television workers, professionals, media students, and labor rights advocates launched the Eyes on Set Network to monitor the Eddie Garcia Law’s enforcement and call for living wages and humane working hours in the film and television industry. The network was officially launched at a rally on September 11 in Quezon City.

The network was launched on the day that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) was supposed to release the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Eddie Garcia Law. The said law was passed on May 24.

“The Eyes on Set network welcomes the Eddie Garcia Law. The law is a positive step in regulating the film and TV industry that urgently needs it. Aside from the law, film and TV workers must use this opportunity to air their experiences, further study the conditions in the industry, and strive to unite and organize fellow film and TV workers,” said Nics Basco, the group’s spokesperson.

Groups pushed for such a law after the actor Eddie Garcia’s death on June 20, 2019 due to an accident while on the set of a movie production. The law is in his namesake.

The law provides assurance and protection to individuals in the film and television industry, including independent contractors and employees. The law also enshrines the existence of protocols for safety and secure workplaces.

Part of it also addresses issues such as working hours, wages and benefits. It also states the recognition of the right of industrial workers to enter into collective bargaining.

“In an industry with inhuman hours and dire work conditions, the network urges workers to report on possible violations and loopholes that undermine the intentions of the law,” the network said. Above all, they also emphasized the formation of guilds and unions to continuously strengthen and fight for their rights.

The network is set to hold fora and consultations for workers and advocates to disseminate information about the EGL and labor rights in the film and TV industry.