ECC lists COVID-19 as compensable disease; workers with virus may get P30K

The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), chaired by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, has approved the inclusion of COVID-19 among its list of occupational and work-related compensable diseases.

This was announced by Bello during a virtual press briefing on Wednesday.

The inclusion of COVID-19 in the list of compensable diseases means that if a worker from the private or public sector contracts the virus, they may be entitled to receive compensation from the ECC’s Employees’ Compensation Program.

Asked how much the compensation will be for a worker infected with COVID-19 who applied under the program, Bello said, “Magiging mataas ang compensation ‘yung mga work-related illness. Usually ang compensation niyan is P10,000 pero kung COVID-19 P30,000 [The compensation will be high. Usually the compensation is P10,000. For COVID-19, P30,000].”

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Public Information Service director Rolly Francia clarified that the amount is recommended by the ECC board for approval by the President.

Bello also stressed that the compensation will still be P30,000 regardless if the worker has a severe, mild or moderate form of COVID-19.

ECC board resolution 21-04-14 states that COVID-clinically diagnosed and consistent with the history, and signs and symptoms of COVID-19 supported by diagnostic proof, to include reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, is compensable in any of the following conditions:

• There must be a direct connection between the offending agent or event and the worker based on epidemiological criteria and occupational risk (e.g. healthcare workers, screening and contact tracing teams etc.)
• The tasks assigned to the worker would require frequent face-to-face and close proximity interaction with the public or with confirmed cases for healthcare workers
• Transmission occurred in the workplace
• Transmission occurred while commuting to and from work

Bello said the resolution shall take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. — BM, GMA News