Schiff Expects Relief Bill "Will Hopefully Help Entertainment Industry Workers Get Through Some Of The Hardships To Come"

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) told Deadline he hopes the coronavirus relief bill will help entertainment industry workers get through tough times as stay at home orders and closings other than essential businesses continue throughout California.

“I think we were very fortunate to get this language in the bill that does cover most of the entertainment industry workers who are freelancers” said Schiff “or who go from contract to contract, or just had a contract but it was canceled, or was about to start a show but the show was canceled or at least their continued work on it was postponed.

Deadline reports  the legislation expands the scope of unemployment benefits beyond those who have had traditional employer-employee relationships. Now freelancers, gig workers and independent contractors will be eligible for emergency coronavirus employment benefits for up to four months. The benefits also will be retroactive to Jan. 27, and the legislation increases the size of the unemployment checks by $600 per week.

Schiff, whose district covers Hollywood, Burbank and other areas heavy in the industry workforce, led a group of dozens of lawmakers who called for the relief package to include non-traditional employees. Unions and guilds also were concerned over freelance workers who had upcoming projects canceled.

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