ECC helps workers' claims over

Work related accidents, death

TAGBILARAN CITY, June 20, (PIA)--There is some ray of hope for workers who have been nursing work related injuries by dipping into their pockets after using up their allocations from their trusted medical insurance avail-ments.

Decapitation, permanent loss of limbs, hearing loss due to long exposure to noise, recurrent asthma  attacks due to exposure to dust, accidental loss of sight, kidney issues triggered by work stress or death: in all these cases, countless workers more often than not, spend on their own from their pockets.

After a law has made it mandatory for workers to be enrolled with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) or the Social security System for private workers, the problem is partly answered.

Until the avail-ment of the medical benefits, hospitalization or funeral services get past the ceiling pegged by the provider, then the hassle starts.

Now comes the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) Employee Compensation Commission (ECC).

The Commission, which helps in the DOLE's implementation of the labor code, occupational safety and health advocacy and advance the promotion of workers benefits especially in work related incidents, brings the good news.

Coming in for the first time out of Manila to disseminate the good news to Boholano workers who has attained health problems or met accidents in the performance  of their duties, ECC Executive Director Atty. Jonathan Villasoto pointed out, "even without putting in a contribution, a worker who meets accident, contacts an ailment due to work or dies while working, can get financial help.

Anything, as long as it is work related accidents be they major or minor as long as it stops a worker from doing his job, Villasoto said.

Of course, the ECC also clarified that accidents caused by notorious negligence, intoxication of worker, willful intention to injure are now covered, he sidelined.

The help, he said, would come from the one employers put up as "employees compensation" in situations where workers are hurt at work.

The contribution comes from the employers, not deducted from the employees , but from the employers, he explained.

Unlike the GSIS and SSS benefits where the employee has to put up the amount, the ECC way is to help the worker recover from temporary disability, permanent disability, rehabilitation services or even death and funeral benefits.

In fact, some claims which have been denied by the GSIS or the SSS, the ECC helps, Atty Villasoto announced during the press conference to announce the Pre Employees Compensation Advocacy Seminar.

ECC also hinted that in some cases, workers have claimed double recovery of benefits.

Times when the ceilings put up by the medical insurance provider is attained, and the succeeding claims are refused, the ECC can rule out and demand payments, to allow the worker to get reimbursed of the excess amount he paid for his treatment or rehabilitation.

ECC has also facilitated death benefits for soldiers and police officers who died while in the performance of their duties, getting more financial assistance for burial services beyond the usual GSIS.

Owing to the lack of material time to discuss everything at the press conference, EEC urged questions and queries to be sent through their Facebook account: Employees Compensation Commission. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

DOLE OUT maybe, but DOLE EEC says helping ease out a worker's struggle to pay for treatment of work related injury, sickness or death would be fair game, especially for families with workers who are also the breadwinners. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)