Brief History
The ECC is a government corporation. It is attached to the Department of Labor and Employment for policy coordination and guidance.
It is a quasi-judicial corporate entity created to implement the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP). The ECP provides a package of benefits for public and private sector employees and their dependents in the event of work-connected contingencies such as sickness, injury, disability or death.
As implementor of the Employees Compensation Program, ECC is mandated by law to provide meaningful and appropriate compensation to workers. Its main functions are:
- To formulate policies and guidelines for the improvement of the employees’ compensation program;
- To review and decide on all EC appealed claims disapproved by the Systems; and
- To initiate policies and programs toward adequate occupational health and safety and accident prevention in the working environment
Legal Mandate
The ECC was created in November 1, 1974 by virtue of PD 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines. It, however, become fully operational with the issuance of PD 626 which took effect January 1, 1975.
Powers and Functions
Under Article 177 of P.D. 626 as amended, the ECC has the following powers and duties:
- To assess and fix a rate of contributions from all employers;
- To determine the rate of contribution payable by an employer whose records show a high frequency of work accidents or occupational disease due to failure by the said employer to observe adequate measures;
- To approve rules and regulations governing the processing of claims and the settlement of disputes arising therefrom as prescribed by the System;
- To initiate policies and programs toward adequate occupational health and safety and accident prevention in the working environment, rehabilitation other than those provided for under Article 190 hereof, and other related programs and activities, and to appropriate funds therefor. (As amended by Sec. 3, P.D. 1368).
- To make the necessary actuarial studies and calculations concerning the grant of constant help and income benefits for permanent disability and death, and the rationalization of the benefits for permanent disability and death under the Title with benefits payable by the System for similar contingencies; Provided; That the Commission may upgrade benefits and add new ones subject to approval of the President; and Provided, Further, That the actuarial stability of the State Insurance Fund shall be guaranteed; Provided, Finally, that such increases in benefits shall not require any increases in contribution, except as provided for in paragraph (b) hereof. (As amended by Sec. 3, P.D. 1641).
- To appoint the personnel of its staff, subject to civil service law and rules, but exempt from WAPCO law and regulations;
- To adopt annually a budget of expenditures of the Commission and its staff chargeable against the State Insurance Fund; Provided, that the SSS and GSIS shall advance on a quarterly basis the remittance of allotment of the loading fund for this Commission’s operational expenses based on its annual budget as duly approved by the Ministry of Budget and Management. (As amended by Sec. 3, P.D. 1921).
- To have the power to administer oath and affirmation, and to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum in connection with any question or issue arising from appealed cases under this Title.
- To sue and be sued in court;
- To acquire property, real or personal, which may be necessary or expedient for the attainment of the purposes of this Title;
- To enter into agreements or contracts for such services or aid as may be needed for the proper, efficient and stable administration of the program;
- To perform such other acts as it may deem appropriate for the attainment of the purposes of the Commission and proper enforcement of the provisions of this Title. (As amended by Sec. 18, P.D. 850).
Our Mission
- To develop and implement effective OSH policies and programs for the promotion of a healthy working population and prevention of work related contingencies.
- To promptly provide workers and/or their dependents with adequate benefits and rehabilitation and other related services in the event of work-connected accident, injury, illness and death.
- To manage a sound, strong, and wisely invested State Insurance Fund.
Our Vision
By 2025, ECC is a nationally-recognized social insurance government institution committed to protect all workers through effective programs and excellent services.
Organizational Chart
Corporate Values
- We are God-loving, dedicated and steadfast professionals and public servants.
- We stand for integrity, transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness in our office operations.
- We deal with our clients and other publics with utmost courtesy, patience, compassion and dedication.
- We deliver excellent services promptly and fairly to all.
Quality Policy Statement
Employees’ Compensation Commission is committed to meeting quality requirements in order to efficiently and effectively provide benefits and services to workers and/or their beneficiaries who met work-connected injuries, diseases or death by:
- Ensuring adherence to rules, regulations and policies;
- Exercising responsibility for quality in all our activities;
- Striving for continual improvement in the services provided; and,
- Adapting in its strategic direction and relevant changes in the context of the organization.
ECC recognizes the value of empowering its staff to achieve success in both individual performance and teamwork.
Corporate Governance
Our Customers
The ECC places its customers—the Filipino workers—at its core. It infuses excellence in the delivery of services to its customers by being perceptive and responsive to their needs. It ensures universal and equitable coverage and protection of its customers through a viable Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) through the following:
- Intensification of campaign and information on safety and health in the workplace;
- Innovative policies, programs, and projects that meets the needs of the employees and their beneficiaries in the event of work-connected contingencies;
- Continuous education of workers of their rights and benefits under the ECP;
- Timely, adequate, and meaningful benefits;
- Safeguarding the integrity of the State Insurance Fund; and
- Undertaking customer satisfaction survey to further improve service delivery.
The ECC safeguards its customers by providing a safe workplace in accordance with pertinent health, safety, and environmental laws. The ECC employees are trained in the areas of emergency, earthquake and fire preparedness, as well as in the provision of first aid, to ensure that they are well-equipped to respond to the customer’s needs in case of these unforeseen events.
Emphasizing the value of cardiovascular activities in maintaining an optimum state of health, the ECC encouraged the use of the stairs, both by its employees and customers. Aside from promoting good health, it also contributes to the overall effort of lessening the adverse effect of climate change.
Interaction with the Community
The ECC interacts with the community through various programs and activities that fulfill its mandate. The Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang May Kapansanan or KAGABAY is a special economic assistance program for Persons with Work Related Disability (PWRDs) who lost employment by reason of work-related sickness or injury. It also conduct home visit monitoring regularly to validate beneficiaries of our KAGABAY program. Through the Quick Response Team Program, the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) extends assistance to private and public sector employees or their dependents in the event of work-related sickness, injury or death in the form of psychosocial counselling and assistance in the filing of EC claim with the GSIS or the SSS.
The Occupationally Disabled Workers’ Association of the Philippines, Inc. (ODWAPI)
Extending a helping hand to the PWRDs beyond the usual compensation and rehabilitation services, the ECC helped facilitate the organization of Occupationally-Disabled Workers’ Association of the Philippines, Inc. (ODWAPI).
Established in March 2012 by persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) who benefitted from the ECC’s Katulong at Gabay ng Manggagawang May Kapansanan, or KaGabay Program, the ODWAPI is the first of its kind to be recognized by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) as a duly registered association of PWRD. It aims to empower its member-PWRDs by making them self-sufficient using the livelihood and entrepreneurship skills they also acquired through the KaGabay Program.
With 300 active members, the ODWAPI was able to maintain two income generating projects. Through the livelihood assistance grant from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), they were able to put a store in Southwest Integrated Provincial Transport Terminal which earns around P10,000-P15,000 a day and another one located within the ECC compound in Makati which earns P1,500-2,000 per day. The seven member-PWRDs who man the stores each receive P500 per day.
In 2015, the ODWAPI was able to extend its reach in various regions of the country. ODWAPI in Iloilo, Zamboanga, and in Benguet were established with the similar aim of encouraging and motivating each members to harness the skill the skills they acquired from the KaGabay Program and to optimally utilize the resources shared to them.
Environment
The ECC looks after its environment. As its way of mitigating the effects of climate change, it carries out an annual tree planting activity where it enjoins its employee to do their share in saving and preserving the environment.