Debated in Parliament on 7 Jul 2014.
Ms Janice Koh asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) whether he can provide an update on how MDA works with the Association of Independent Producers (AIPRO) to adopt and enforce a code of best practices in the payment of and provision of welfare to freelancers and employees in the film and television industry; (b) what measures will be taken against MDA-funded companies which fail to comply with the code; (c) whether there are formal means for freelancers to report non-payment and late payment cases to MDA; and (d) how many cases of non-payment and late payment have been reported to MDA since 2007.
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MDA has been working with AIPRO to support their effort to establish a Code of Industry Best Practices to guide relations between member companies and their stakeholders, including freelancers. The Code was formalised in July 2012. At this point, the Code addresses payment terms and contractual agreements for freelancers. It will eventually cover workplace insurance for freelancers.
MDA has been encouraging various industry stakeholders, such as freelance industry groups as well as broadcasters, to adopt the Code. We are happy to note that the Code has benefited even non-AIPRO members as the payment terms have been adopted by MediaCorp for its commissioned Public Service Broadcast (PSB) content.
Since 2007, MDA has received two reported cases of non-payment involving content projects that it funded. No new cases have been reported to MDA since. These cases, in fact, provided an impetus for AIPRO to establish the Code. First, with payment terms and formalising contractual agreements between broadcasters, production companies and production crew, including freelancers, and followed by insurance coverage for freelancers.
AIPRO is expanding the Code to cover other areas of freelancers' welfare, including dispute resolution. AIPRO has begun training some of their members to handle disputes with help from the Singapore Mediation Centre. This is in addition to existing channels of dispute resolution for freelancers, such as the Small Claims Tribunal. Additionally, freelancers can write directly to MDA through its feedback channel on MDA's website, so that the necessary assistance can be rendered quickly. New project funding can be withheld in cases where MDA has knowledge of misconduct by companies that have received funding from MDA.
I would like to assure this House that MDA will continue to engage the industry and respond to its evolving needs as part of its broader goal of growing a vibrant and attractive sector for media talent.
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