The Supreme Court has ruled that 94 members of the Talents Association of GMA (TAG) are regular employees of GMA Network, ending an 11-year legal dispute. The Third Division upheld a 2019 Court of Appeals decision that TAG members were not independent contractors. The ruling was made public on January 24.
“Talents are regular employees, deserving of security and statutory benefits. We believed this from the start, and now the law confirms it,” TAG said in a statement.
The Court noted that GMA exercised control over the talents’ work, screened candidates, paid salaries twice a month, and had the authority to discipline and dismiss them. “Plain as day, there exists an employer-employee relationship between GMA and respondents,” the Supreme Court said.
Separation Pay and Backwages Ordered
The ruling also directs GMA Network to provide separation pay and backwages to 50 TAG members who were dismissed during the case. The network had argued that 15 talents were terminated for unauthorized absences but did not provide proof. For the remaining 35, the Court said the lack of written notice for contract renewal made it unreasonable to assume their contracts would not continue.
TAG members expressed relief after more than a decade of litigation. “[Our] members have suffered emotionally and mentally taking a legal battle against what we considered our home network. This should not have taken 11 years,” the group said.
Impact on Media Industry
The decision has been welcomed by journalists and media practitioners as an important step for workers’ rights. Rappler investigative reporter Lian Buan highlighted its significance for the anti-contractualization movement, while lifestyle editor Apple Gamboa called it a validation of their fight for fair treatment. University of the Philippines lecturer Ely Del Rosario said, “The law protects workers. Abuse has limits. Collective action has power.”
The ruling reinforces employee protections in the Philippine media industry and challenges long-standing contractualization practices. TAG hopes it will encourage media companies to respect workers’ rights and ensure fair employment conditions for future generations.
