NATIONAL–The House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 7329 or the “Line Workers Insurance and Benefits Act” on the third and final reading with 197 affirmative votes.
The said bill seeks to give mandatory insurance coverage to the thousands of electrical and telecommunications line workers in the country.
Under HB 7329 is Compulsory Insurance where employers would address the premium for life, accident, and disability insurance of the workers.
The minimum insurance benefit depends on company size, whereas it will amount to P200-K for small until P1-M for large Electric Cooperatives, P1.5-M for Private Distribution Utilities, and P2-M for National Transmission Corp./Grid Operator.
Meanwhile, aside from insurance, employers are also obligated to give retirement benefits, mortuary assistance, and reimbursement for medical expenses for harm caused while on-duty.
According to House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, one of the primary authors, it is right for line workers to receive the proper protection, regardless if they are regular, contractual, or under a job order, because of the dangers they face in repairing power lines and cables underground.
