TAG wins landmark case vs GMA recognizing talents as regular employees

By Nash Villena, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
January 24, 2026

(Photo courtesy: Buhay Media/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — The Talents Association of GMA (TAG) announced Saturday the favored ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) recognizing the talents of GMA Network Inc. as regular employees, who are entitled to security and statutory benefits.

The ruling, fought by TAG against its home network for over 11 years, upheld the earlier decisions of the Court of Appeals and the National Labor Relations Commission, saying that talents are regular employees and therefore must be guaranteed tenure as well as benefits and rights.

“Plain as day, there exists an employer-employee relationship between GMA and respondents. Respondents are regular employees of GMA,” a part of the SC ruling read.

While GMA may still appeal through a motion for reconsideration, TAG said the long-fought labor case’s victory in the High Court already served as a testament to protect future media workers in the country.

“It is time for media companies, especially broadcast networks, to scrap its longtime practice of contractualization through a talent system. It is time to protect Filipino media workers,” TAG stressed in a statement.

“This should not have cost us this much to fight. But we are glad we did. This is our gift to the next generation,” the group added.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) also welcomed the SC ruling and has urged GMA to refrain from opposing the decision, underscoring that it should instead fulfill its obligations to media workers.

“This victory is vindication for the countless talents, contractors and providers that big media relies on but do not recognize as employees entitled to even basic protections and benefits under our labor laws,” NUJP wrote on a post.