More COVID-19 afflicted workers seeking compensation from ECC

MANILA, Philippines — More workers who got infected with COVID while performing their jobs are seeking compensation from the government.

The number of workers from both the private sector and government applying for compensation with the Employees Compensation Commission has significangly increased, according to ECC executive director Stella Banawis.

Those who contracted COVID-19 while working under the work from home arrangement, however, cannot claim compensation, she said.

A resolution approved by the ECC board states that only injuries or death resulting from the performance of duties while working from home are compensable.

The ECC has declared COVID as an occupational and work-related disease.

The Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System have been ordered to streamline the process of ECC claims of workers for diseases including COVID that were acquired in line of duty during outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics.

The ECC reported that less than a thousand workers who got infected with COVID applied for EC compensation last year.