Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis of the Employees’ Compensation Commission recently reiterated that security guards are entitled to benefits and services under the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) in the event of work-connected sickness, injury, disability, or death and as mandated under Department Order No. 150-16, or the Revised Guidelines Governing the Employment and Working Conditions of Security Guards and other Private Security Personnel in the Private Security Industry issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“The ECP acts as a safety net for the security guards and other workers should they be afflicted with a work-related disease or become a victim or a work-related accident,” Banawis explained.

The ECP provides loss of income benefits for security guards who are unable to work because of a work-related sickness or injury. It also compensates for disabilities such as, but not limited to, physical or functional loss of a body part.

He or she is also entitled to medical reimbursement which includes reimbursement of the cost of medicines for a work-related illness or injury, payment to providers of medical care, hospital care, surgical expenses, and the costs of rehabilitation appliances and supplies.

“There is also a carer’s allowance in the form of a supplemental pension worth P575 per month, if he or she suffers from a work-connected permanent partial or permanent total disability,” Banawis said.

He or she can also undergo free rehabilitation services in an ECC partner hospital, skills training for re-employment or new employment, and entrepreneurship training to facilitate his or her reintegration in to the socio-economic mainstream.

“In a very unfortunate event of work-related death, the beneficiaries of the security guard will receive death pension and funeral benefit,” Banawis added.
She further said that the EC benefits are on top of SSS benefits, should the security guard also qualifies for such.

Claimants can file their EC claims at the nearest SSS branch.

“We are also ready to assist them should they have concerns on the filing of their EC claims. They can visit our Public Assistance Center, which is located in our office in Makati,” Banawis said.

EC claimants from the regions can also proceed to the Department of Labor and Employment office in their respective regions where they can be assisted by ECC Regional Extension Units staff.

“We also entertain queries through our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ecc.official, and through our hotline, 02-896-7837” she further added.

Security agencies who want to know more about the benefits and services under the ECP can request for an orientation from the Information and Public Assistance Division of the ECC.

In February of this year, the DOLE issued Department Order No. 150-16 to ensure compliance of private security agencies with the mandated employment benefits and working conditions for security guards and other private security personnel.

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