Senator Risa Hontiveros welcomed the newly released resolution from the Employers Compensation Commission (ECC) on compensating workers for injuries sustained while working from home.

Back in April, the Senator also lauded the commission for listing COVID-19 as a compensable occupational disease.

“Ngayong mas marami na ang naka-work-from-home arrangements, malaking bagay na alam ng ating manggagawa na may sasalo sa kanila ano man ang mangyari sa kanila, saang lugar man sila nagta-trabaho, kahit pa sa bahay,” Hontiveros said.

“The essence of workplace safety and health goes beyond the workers’ offices. This new resolution from the ECC provides clarity as to how Filipino workers can avail of compensation in the event they get sick, or suffer from disability or death from injuries sustained while working from home,” she added..

Based on the commission’s Board Resolution No. 21-03-09, disability or death due to injuries sustained by the employees, both private and government, while working from home will be compensable under the Employees Compensation Program (ECP). The claim requires a written directive or order from his or her employer specifying a work-from-home arrangement or the performance of specific tasks within a specified period at the residence or dwelling place of the employee.

Hontiveros also emphasized that the measure is timely and relevant especially when many illnesses may arise due to longer working hours and lack of time boundaries when working remotely at home. She specifically cited the recent study published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) which revealed that more than 55 hours of working per week increases the risk of stroke and heart disease.

“Simula nang mag work-from-home, mas naging sedentary ang lifestyle ng ilan. Marami din ang nagtatrabaho beyond office hours. There’s a higher risk of getting stroke and heart disease in the long run. The resolution will provide employees with much-needed protection and safeguards especially against the long-term effects of a work from home set-up,” she said.

The Senator then urged that a “right to disconnect” from work should also be institutionalized to prevent abuse and exploitation. She furthered, it is time to heed the call of the trade unions which have been pushing for the same measure.

“There have been many instances in which remote workers are forced to be alert or online 24/7. Nauutusan pa rin ng kanilang mga boss kahit lagpas na sa oras o araw ng kanilang trabaho. Maliban siguro sa emergency cases, mas makabubuti nang ibigay natin sa manggagawa ang nakalaan nilang oras sa pahinga o break para labanan ang stress at makapag-recharge,” Hontiveros said.

“Our workers deserve better working conditions. Kapag sila ay healthy, mas nagiging produktibo silang empleyado. Ang tamang pag-aalaga sa ating manggagawa ang susi sa pag-unlad at muling pagbangon ng ating ekonomiya,” she concluded.