The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) announced recently the increased benefits for both public and private employees.

President Benigno S. Aquino approved on May 26, 2014 the increase of Employees’ Compensation (EC) Funeral Benefit from P10,000 to P20,000 for both the employees in the private and public sectors and 10% across-the-board increase in EC pension for all EC permanent partial disability, permanent total disability and survivorship pension in the private sector.

An attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), ECC is mandated to provide meaningful and appropriate compensation to workers in the event of work-related contingencies.

Labor and Employment Secretary and Chair of the ECC Board Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said that Executive Order No. 167 as approved by President Aquino is based on the actuarial studies conducted by the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System.

“The increase in benefits will not have a significant effect on the SSS-managed and GSIS-managed State Insurance Fund,” she said.

“The EC SIF (State Insurance Fund) has the capability to finance the increase in funeral benefits for employees in both the private and public sectors from P10,000 to P20,000 even without corresponding increase in the EC contributions from the employers, both private and public,” Baldoz explained.

Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said that ECC is continuously reviewing policies to improve its benefits.

“The funeral benefits for employees both in public and private sectors was worth P3,000 since 1975. It was increased to P10,000 in 1993 and 2013 for private and public sector, respectively,” said Banawis.

In addition to the increase of funeral benefits, a 10% across-the-board increase in the EC pension for all EC permanent partial disability, permanent total disability and survivorship pension starting in September 2013 for the private sector has also been approved by the President.

The funeral benefit given by ECP is in addition to the funeral benefit given by the SSS provided that the cause of death of the covered employee is work-connected.

“The EC Programs are beneficial to both workers and employers as ECC also assists in expenses incurred by the hospitalization of its employees who meets  work-related contingencies,” DOLE Davao Regional director Joffrey M. Suyao said.

In Davao Region, ECC office is housed the DOLE Regional Office in Dacudao Ave. in Agdao Davao City.

ECC conducts EC Programs orientation upon invitation of companies.

“We encourage companies to visit or call us to get more information on  EC Programs,” Suyao said.

ECC REU XI