The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) recently approved increasing sickness benefits to P600 per day and cash assistance for P30,000 for sick workers, such as COVID-19.
Currently, the sickness benefit is P480, and the cash assistance of the ECC is P10,000, which can be applied for by workers who are members of the Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
“Na-submit na namin sa Malacañang. Hinihintay na lang po namin na mag-increase siya,” said ECC Executive Director Stella Banawis.
Although the benefit is separate from the ECC, the SSS and GSIS still apply and process it.
But with the number of applications before the end of 2021 and many commission employees affected by COVID, the processing of the issuance of checks on approved applications stopped.
“Nag-suspend kami ng January 3 and very soon io-open namin ulit… siguro mga February na magsa-start,” said Banawis.
“Umpisahan nila muna ang pagsbubmit sa SSS o GSIS kasi ang approval ng agencies na ito ang pinakaimportanteng dokumento para namin maiprocess,” she added.
ECC approves higher sickness benefit
He said the workers have nothing to worry about because filing has been suspended because the “prescriptive period” of filing. That is, so far, the 3-year number for filing benefits has not yet begun.
Meanwhile, Quezon City Market Development and Administration Department officials will once again visit the Commonwealth Market and Litex Market to identify vendors who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Unvaccinated vendors will be taken directly to Quezon City Memorial Circle to be vaccinated there.
When a vendor refuses to be vaccinated, he or she is required to undergo a COVID-19 swab test every two weeks. This is also in effect of MMDA Resolution 22-01.
Last week, the Quezon City local government announced the provision of P2,000 assistance to those who will get vaccinated and stop selling.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.