Group lauds P30k worker benefit, bats for removal of COVID-19 transmission proof

A labor group on Friday welcomed the P30,000 compensation for a worker who contracted COVID-19, but appealed to authorities to remove the hurdle of proving that the infection is work-related.

Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) spokesperson Alan Tanjusay told "Dobol B TV" that the P30,000 compensation for each infected worker is a welcome development, adding that removing the "proof" requirement would be much better.

“Maganda na sana eh, kaso may ganun pang harang” (the compensation could have been much better without the hurdle.)

According to Tanjusay, an infected worker needs to prove that he or she got infected during travel from home to work and back.

“Ipo-prove pa ng mga manggagawa na nagka-COVID-19 na sila ay nahawa sa bus, sa jeep, o sa tricycle papunta o pabalik ng trabaho,” he elaborated.

Earlier, the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), an attached agency under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), approved the inclusion of COVID-19 to be among its list of occupational and work-related compensable diseases. 

It is proposing to give P30,000 compensation for infected workers if they applied under its Employees’ Compensation Program. The recommended amount is still subject for approval by the President.

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

With these, Tanjusay said workers would find it difficult to prove that their infection is work-related.

“Kaya’t ang pakiusap namin na tanggalin na ang ganitong requirement” (Thus, we appeal for the removal of such a requirement), he said.

He pointed out that the easiest way to avail of the compensation is just to present a medical certificate from a doctor and a positive COVID-19 test result.

"Mas mapapadali kung merong test, medical certificate ng doktor very sufficient na ‘yon.”

Further, he said: “Itong coronavirus disease mahirap i-prove kung saan ka nahawa” (It is very difficult to establish how one contracted coronavirus disease.) —LBG, GMA News