QUALIFIED workers who were infected with Covid-19 will now have an easier time claiming their Employee’s Compensation (EC), according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In an online press briefing on Wednesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III announced the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) finally issued Board Resolution 21-04-14 declaring Covid-19 an occupational and work-related disease.
Under the issuance, the Covid-infected worker will immediately qualify for an EC benefit if he or she has a direct connection with the infecting agent or event based on epidemiologic criteria and occupational risk.
A worker may also claim compensation for Covid infection if the task assigned to him or her requires frequent face-to-face and close proximity interactions with the public, i.e., they got it in the workplace or in commuting to work.
ECC said the applicants will be required to submit a diagnostic proof including a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.
If approved, ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis told BusinessMirror in a Viber message, the applicants could get P480 per day for every day they are not able to go to work.
She said they could also receive EC medical benefits on top of what is provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and if they succumb to Covid-19, their beneficiaries could get a P30,000 fixed funeral benefit and a death benefit depending on their contributions and monthly salary credits.
“It is only proper that we formulate and pass policies that will effectively and efficiently respond to the current situation and changing needs of our workers. We recognize the risk of those who courageously and willingly put their lives on the line as we continue to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic,” Banawis said in a statement.