Supplementary to the benefits and services currently received from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) by government employees, the NLRC Personnel were oriented on September 10, 2019, Tuesday, by the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) on the benefits and privileges the public servants may further avail of under their Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP).

The ECP is a government program designed to provide a compensation package to public and private employees or their dependents in the event of work-related sickness, injury or death.

“As the orientation is aimed at ensuring that employees are informed of their rights, benefits and privileges under the Employees’ Compensation Program, we believe that the same would greatly contribute to the promotion of ECP awareness among NLRC Officials and Employees,” as noted by Chairman Gerardo C. Nograles in his letter to ECC, requesting for the conduct of the said program awareness in the Commission.

Covered by this program are private sector workers who are registered members of the Social Security System (SSS) except self-employed or voluntary members; and Government Sector Employees who are registered member of the GSIS, including members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), elective government officials who are receiving regular salary and all casual, emergency, temporary and substitute or contractual employees. The coverage of the program starts on the first day of employment.

As discussed among the participants by Mr. Alvin C. Garcia, Public Relations Officer of ECC, benefits and services of the program include Loss of Income Benefit or a Cash Benefit which is given to a worker to compensate for loss of income due to inability to work; Medical Benefits which takes in the reimbursement of the cost of medicine for the illness or injury, payment to providers of medical care, hospital care, surgical expenses and the costs of appliances and supplies; Rehabilitation Services which covers physical therapy, vocational training and special assistance to develop the workers mental, vocational and social potential and to help them remain as productive members of the society; Carer’s Allowance which is provided to an employee who suffers a permanent total disability arising out of employment the extent of which is such that he could not on his own attend to his basic personal needs; and Death Benefits which are granted to beneficiaries of an employee who dies as a result of sickness or injury arising out of or in the course of employment.

The orientation also highlighted the recent program reforms of the ECC anchored on the 3Es (Equalize, Enhance, Expand) Strategy in response to the challenges facing the EC program. A total of 40 participants principally comprised of the newly-appointed employees of NLRC and representatives from the NLRC Human Resource Group, attended the said ECP Awareness Orientation.

/END/Katherine Mae S. Bautista