A new proposal, the “Freelance Workers Protection Act” (House Bill 8785), is looking to fix one of the biggest problems freelancers face: not getting paid. The bill, filed in the House of Representatives of the Philippines, would require written contracts and a minimum 30 percent upfront payment before any work begins.

It also introduces penalties for late payments, unfair contract changes, and retaliation, with fines reaching up to P500,000. If passed, freelancers would finally have legal backing to enforce fair treatment instead of relying on trust or chasing clients across borders.