A BILL proposing compensation and benefits for students undergoing internships in the government and private sectors will soon be filed at the House of Representatives.
On a Facebook post, Akbayan Partylist Representative Chel Diokno laid out their first five bills for the Filipino youth, which will be pushed for once the 20th Congress convenes on July 28, coinciding with the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The proposed measures include the “Interns’ Rights and Welfare Bill,” seeking to provide 75 percent of the Salary Grade 1 for interns in the government offices, while 75 percent of the regional minimum wage will be given to interns in the private companies.
These salaries should be non-taxable, according to Diokno.
“Isa pang problema ng mga estudyante natin ‘yung mga internship na naaabuso kung minsan at nagiging point of exploitation,” Diokno said in a press conference.
The Philippine government uses a salary grade system to structure the government employees’ salaries based on their positions and responsibilities. It ranges from Salary Grade 1, which typically includes entry-level positions, to Salary Grade 33, given to the highest-ranking official.
Based on the data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), those assigned to Salary Grade 1 earn around P14,061 to P14,862 per month.
Meanwhile, the daily minimum wage rates for Filipino employees in the private sector vary in each region, but the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Friday, July 18, the effectivity of the P50 increase in the daily wage in Metro Manila, from P645 to P695, for workers in the non-agriculture sector.
Laborers working in agriculture, service/retail establishments with 15 workers or fewer, and manufacturing establishments with fewer than 10 workers will now receive a P658 daily salary.
Other provisions
The “Interns’ Rights and Welfare Bill” also proposes to set internship duration and limits based on industry standards.
It seeks to provide interns 8-hour rest periods between shifts and additional compensation if they work during holidays and weekends.
The bill also wants to ensure that interns will be given proper mentorship and adequate protection.
Diokno said the proposed measure aims to end what he calls “free labor disguised as ‘experience,’” claiming that interns are also workers.
Akbayan Partylist will also pushed for a P5,000-monthly allowance for students from the poorest families enrolled in state universities and colleges under the “Baon Bill,” prohibition of increase in tuition and other fees without student consultation under the “Students’ Rights and Welfare Bill,” education and employment for 10 million out-of-school youth under the “Magna Carta for Out of School Youth,” and protection and equal opportunities for digital workers, riders, entrepreneurs, and freelancers under the “Protektadong Online Workers, Entrepreneurs, Riders at Raketera Bill.”
