DOLE pushes passage of workers’ pay bill

MANILA, Philippines – To provide better protection and benefits for workers nationwide, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) pushed yesterday for the immediate passage of the Philippine Workers’ Compensation Authority Bill (PWCAB).

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said if the bill now pending in Congress is passed into law, it would grant wider social protection and other safety nets for Filipino workers.

“The proposed bill will give workers and their beneficiaries more flexible options and greater scope of coverage and protection aside from ensuring the rehabilitation of workers disabled as a result of occupational diseases or work accidents,” she said.

Baldoz said the bill would allow the setting up a unified and more efficient employees’ compensation program (ECP) for public and private workers, as well as overseas Filipino workers.

“It will pave the way for the creation of a single state entity, the Philippine Workers Compensation Authority which will oversee the administration,” she said.

The bill also seeks the establishment of a Work Contingency Insurance Fund from which all payments of benefits for workers will be sourced.

The proposed system would provide for a more  systematic collection of contribution, thus minimizing defaults in payments, she added.

Baldoz said DOLE favors the simplification of a benefits system to avoid confusion, particularly in the grant of primary and basic benefits under the ECP.

”It is high time that Filipino workers get the protection and compensation they deserve, especially in times of untoward incidents,” she said.

The bill also allows the inclusion of informal workers in the program, Baldoz said. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)