The state of AWA 2

The last column discussed the travesty of the Artists Welfare Protection and Information Act, as sponsored by Senator Grace Poe in the Senate, and as pushed by the Artist Welfare Project Inc. (AWPI). We began with letter (a) of its Declaration of Policy that mistakenly views artists to either be employed or self-employed, which fails to consider how a majority of artists in this country are in fact freelancers, not earning enough to call themselves self-employed in their own businesses, but mere contractual service providers, with no relationship with employers, no health benefits, no social security.

The freelance artist in this country is in fact left on her own, with no one to turn to or depend on in times of need, and rarely with additional cash to spend on health emergencies.