ECC continues to reach out to workers

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/931481273590/ecc-continues-to-reach-out-to-workers
• Sunday, December 11, 2016

By Lilibeth A. French (JCM/laf/PIA6-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY (PIA6) -- The Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) Regional Extension Unit 6 has conducted 43 advocacy activities around Western Visayas this year, informing workers, both in the government and private sectors, of the packages and benefits under the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP).

According to ECC REU 6 Regional-In-Charge Stephene Barredo, the 43 advocacy activities or seminars were mostly requested by companies and organizations in Western Visayas. Out of the 43 seminars, 33 were considered on-site or requested by the companies while the remaining 10 are in-house or facilitated by ECC.

The activities were able to gather some 2,000 workers from 1,000 companies and organizations in the region.

ECP is a government program that provides compensation and rehabilitation benefits to private and public sector workers in the event of work-related contingencies. It has three components namely prevention, compensation and rehabilitation.

Under the prevention component, Barredo said compliance with occupational safety and health standards is highlighted as the most important factor to increase the productivity of employees which will consequently result to more efficient performance and higher sales.

In the compensation and rehabilitation aspects, participants of the seminars were made to understand that their EC monthly contributions would redound to benefits and services as social insurance for work-related sickness, injuries and death.

Barredo said employees of private companies are assured of 62 years of protection from work related contingencies while the public sector employees’ fund support can last up to 46 years.

Based on the actuarial study done early this year, EC beneficiaries in private establishments are assured of their benefits until year 2078 while those in the government service are guaranteed until year 2062.

Workers in the private sector who are compulsory members of the Social Security System and sea-based Overseas Filipino Workers are covered by the program.

In the government sector, employees covered by the ECP are members of the Government service Insurance System, including members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, elective government officials who are receiving regular salary and all casual, emergency, temporary and substitute or contractual employees.

Barredo said the coverage of ECP starts on the first day of worker’s employment in the company.