CoViD-19 now a compensable work-related disease
CoViD-19 now a compensable work-related disease – Bello
Filipino workers who had been infected with COVID-19 will receive appropriate compensation from the government through the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC).
This was announced by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III who said the ECC board has approved the inclusion of the coronavirus disease in its list of occupational and work-related diseases.
Bello said the Commission issued Board Resolution No. 21-04-14 on April 6, 2021, specifying the conditions for the compensability of CoViD-19 under Annex A of the Amended Rules on Employees’ Compensation.
“ECC has been consistent in declaring the compensability of CoViD-19 under the ‘increased risk’ theory of the ECP. But because of its commitment to be responsive and relevant to the changing demands of the time, the ECC requested the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) to study on the possible inclusion of CoViD-19 in the ECC’s list of occupational and work-related diseases,” Bello, who chairs the ECC Board, said.
Considering the OSHC’s recommendations and after deliberations with the Department of Labor and Employment and various labor and employer groups, Bello added that the Commission has moved that CoViD-19 be considered an occupational and work-related disease.
ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis meanwhile said it is only proper that the Commission 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 added.
Early during the pandemic, the ECC, through Board Resolution No. 20-03-07 dated 31 March 2020, has also directed the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to streamline the processing of EC claims of workers for diseases, including COVID-19, that were acquired in the line of duty during outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics.
The SSS and the GSIS serve as the administering agencies of the ECC in the implementation of EC policies and processing of EC claims.
“The ECC is continuously working to improve its policies and services to better serve the Filipino workers, especially during this trying time. We will persist to find ways and come up with measures that will mobilize assistance and respond to the crises brought by the CoViD-19 pandemic,” Banawis said.
With the inclusion of the CoViD-19, there are now 33 illnesses in the List of Occupational and Work-related Diseases under the Employees’ Compensation Program.
The ECC also reminded the public that non-inclusion of illnesses in the list does not mean that it is no longer compensable under the EC Program.
Through the Increased Risk Theory concept, illnesses may be compensable if the causal connection between the illness and the nature of work or working conditions can be established. # # #
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COViD-19 isa na ngayong compensable work-related disease – Bello
Makatatanggap na ng kabayaran ang mga manggagawang Filipino na nagkasakit ng Covid-19 mula sa Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), isang ahensiya sa ilalim ng Department of Labor and Employment.
Ito ang pahayag ni Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III kung saan kanya ring sinabi na inaprobahan na ng ECC board ang paglalagay ng coronavirus disease sa listahan ng mga occupational at work-related diseases.
Sinabi ni Bello na ipinalabas ng Commission ang Board Resolution No. 21-04-14 nitong Abril 6, 2021, kung saan nakasaad ang mga kondisyon para sa nararapat na kabayaran para sa mga manggagawang nagkasakit ng Covid-19 sa ilalim ng Annex A ng Amended Rules on Employees’ Compensation.
“Ipinahayag ang ECC na dapat makatanggap ng bayad ang mga nagkasakit ng Covid-19 dahil napapabilang ito sa ‘increased risk’ theory ng ECP. At dahil sa layunin nitong matugunan ang pabago-bagong pangangailangan dala ng panahon, hiniling ng ECC sa Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) na pag-aralan kung nararapat na isama ang Covid-19 sa listahan ng occupational and work-related diseases ng ECC,” wika ni Bello, na siya ring namumuno sa ECC Board.
Matapos isaalang-alang ang rekomendasyon ng OSHC at matapos ang deliberasyon, kasama ang Department of Labor and Employment at iba’t-ibang grupo ng manggagawa at employer, napagkasunduan na isama ang Covid-19 sa listahan ng occupational and work-related disease, dagdag ni Bello.
Samantala, sinabi ni ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis na tungkulin ng Commission ang magbuo at magpasa ng polisiya na “epektibo at mabisang tutugon sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon at pabago-bagong pangangailangan ng ating mga manggagawa.”
“Alam natin ang peligrong dinadanas ng mga matatapang nating manggagawa at ang kusang-loob nilang pag-aalay ng kanilang sariling buhay habang patuloy nilang kinakaharap ang pandemyang Covid-19,” dagdag ni Banawis.
Bago pa man ang pandemya, inatasan na ng ECC, sa bisa ng Board Resolution No. 20-03-07 petsa 31 March 2020, ang Social Security System (SSS) at ang Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) na isaayos ang pagproseso ng EC claims ng mga manggagawang nagkakasakit, kabilang ang Covid 19, na kanilang nakuha nang sila ay nagtatrabaho sa panahon ng outbreak, epidemya at pandemya.
Ang SSS at GSIS ang tumatayong ahensiya ng ECC na nangagasiwa sa implementasyon ng EC policy at pag-proseso ng EC claims.
“Patuloy ang ECC sa kanilang gawain upang maisaayos ang kanilang polisiya at serbisyo para mas higit na mapaglingkuran ang mga manggagawang Filipino, lalo na sa mga panahon ng paghihirap. Pagsisikapan natin na makagawa ng mga pamamaraan para sa pagbibigay ng tulong at pagtugon sa krisis dulot ng pandemyang Covid-19,” ani Banawis.
Sa pagdagdag ng Covid-19 sa listahan, mayroong 33 sakit na ang nasa List of Occupational and Work-related Diseases sa ilalim ng Employees’ Compensation Program.
Pinaalalahanan din ng ECC ang publiko na ang mga sakit na wala sa listahan ay hindi nangangahulugan na wala rin itong bayad sa ilalim ng EC Program.
Batay sa Increased Risk Theory concept, maaaring bayaran ang pagkakasakit kung mapapatunayan na ang dahilan ng pagkakasakit ay dulot ng kanyang pagtatrabaho o kundisyon sa trabaho. # # #
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