THE House committee on labor and employment approved on Monday, February 10, 2020, a measure seeking to provide health, retirement, and other benefits to independent caddies.
Baguio Representative Mark O. Go, principal author of House Bill (HB) 1343, noted that more than a hundred caddies do not have secure access to employee benefits.
He said caddies are typically classified as “independent contractors” who are self-reliant and do not receive perks from their association with the club.
“For this bill, it will be the responsibility of the particular golf club management to come out with a mechanism wherein they (golf caddies) will be given the SSS, Pag-Ibig, Philhealth, as well as retirement benefits,” Go said.
Employer contributions to the Social Security System, Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-Ibig) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation are mandatory employee benefits in the country.
“Considering the nature of their work, these independent workers are vulnerable to some health hazards—these workers undergo a certain training usually provided by the club management and are subject to the club’s rules and regulation on caddie service,” Go said.
Under the bill, golf club managements are now required to accredit golf caddies and other related service workers who are rendering services to players of the club.
Go said that there are at least 93 golf courses in the country, mostly in Luzon. (SunStar Philippines)