Duterte OKs increases in employee compensation benefits

President Duterte has approved increases in employees’ compensation benefits in the private sector, such as disability pension and reimbursements of physical therapy sessions.

Under Executive Order (EO) No. 54, the increases cover the monthly disability and survivorship pension, carers’ allowances, reimbursement rates for physicians’ fees and physical therapy sessions.

The President signed the directive approving the increases on May 8.

The Employees Compensation Commission grants benefits to private sector employees who contract work-related injury or sickness resulting in permanent partial or permanent total disability.

The directive set the minimum monthly disability and survivorship pension at P2,000, but with a P1,150 increase for permanent disability pensioners and beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, the Social Security System was told to grant 100 percent of the permanent total disability pension to the primary beneficiaries of deceased pensioners.

The carer’s allowance of permanent disability pensioners will increase from P575 to P1,000 a month while reimbursements for physicians’ professional fees may range from P400 to P600. — JULIE M. AURELIO