Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is pushing for the legislation of an employer-provided package of insurance and other benefits for all line workers in the power industry sector, ensuring them a minimum coverage of as much as P2 million.
“Given the hazards that come with their job, line workers more than deserve a package of insurance and benefits. Buwis buhay na hanapbuhay ang pagiging line worker. Sinusuong nila ang panganib bukod pa sa taos puso nilang pakikibahagi para maibalik ang suplay ng kuryente matapos manalasa ang bagyo, lindol at iba pang kalamidad,” said Estrada, a staunch labor advocate.
In his proposed Line Workers Insurance and Benefits Act under Senate Bill No. 2343, Estrada suggests mandating private distribution utilities (PDUs), electric cooperatives (ECs), and transmission or grid operators to provide life and accident or disability insurance, retirement, mortuary, and disability benefits from the time the workers are employed until their separation from the company, either through resignation, termination, or retirement.
The bill sets specific insurance coverage requirements for line workers under ECs based on their classification: P200,000 for small cooperatives, P400,000 for medium-sized, P600,000 for large, P800,000 for extra-large, and P1 million for mega-large cooperatives.
For transmission or grid operators, the minimum insurance coverage shall be P2 million, and for PDUs, it shall be P1.5 million, according to the lawmaker.
In case of death, accident, sickness, disability, or injury sustained in the line of duty, Estrada states that employers will also be mandated to reimburse the actual medical expenses.
However, line workers will be disqualified from receiving the benefits if the death, accident, sickness, disability, or injury occurred during unauthorized absence or abandonment of office, or if it was caused by a willful intention to injure or kill oneself, notorious negligence, failure to observe safety protocols, or failure to exercise reasonable care for one’s safety, or due to the commission of a crime by the line worker.
Apart from the usual electrical line workers, Estrada’s SB 2343 also extends coverage to crew members, drivers, and helpers directly responsible for the construction, installation, maintenance, reconstruction, and repair of overhead transmission and distribution of electrical systems, including underground cables, electrical substations, and other related electrical equipment and facilities.
“Karapat-dapat lang na suklian ang serbisyong binibigay ng mga tinaguriang ‘warriors of light’ dahil hindi biro ang mga kaakibat na panganib na hinaharap nila sa pagtugon sa kanilang mga responsibilidad araw-araw,” said Estrada.