The Talents Association of GMA (TAG) announced on January 24 their victory in the 11-year case for regularization against GMA Network Inc. In its July 16, 2025 decision, the Supreme Court’s Third Division recognized GMA Network’s talents as the company’s regular employees, entitling them to just job security and full benefits.
GMA Network and other media companies hire “talents” as contractual workers under the so-called “talent system.” This has been the standard practice of networks when hiring artists, hosts, and performers. “Talents” are treated as “independent contractors” instead of full-time employees under this scheme.
With TAG’s victory, the court declared that 94 of the association’s members—mostly from the company’s News and Public Affairs Department—are regular employees. They include production assistants, researchers, writers, producers, artists, coordinators, and cameramen.
The decision also declared illegal the termination of 50 TAG members whom the GMA Network denied new contracts or dismissed while the case was ongoing. The court ordered the company to pay the workers’ separation pay and back wages.
TAG filed the case in 2014 before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) because of job insecurity and lack of access to SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth benefits as contractuals. The NLRC ruled in favor of TAG in 2015, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeals in 2019, prompting GMA Network to elevate the case to the Supreme Court.
TAG welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling, noting it established a jurisprudence that would protect future generations of media workers in the country. While GMA Network may still file a motion for reconsideration, TAG considers the decision a victory.
The group said the case was challenging for its members, as it was the first of its kind when filed in 2014. “This should not have taken 11 years. It should not have happened at all,” TAG stated.
TAG called on media companies, especially broadcast networks, to end longstanding contractualization under the “talent system,” saying Filipino media workers should now be protected.
Many labor organizations and progressive parties lauded TAG’s triumph, including the Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP), which supported GMA employees in pushing for an investigation into GMA Network’s labor rights violations.
Former GWP Representative Emmi De Jesus filed House Resolution No. 1893 in 2013 to investigate contractualization in GMA Network. According to GWP, TAG’s victory should now warn all employers and companies against contractualization.
