DOLE ready to assist Semirara mining victims

Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz and President Benigno Aquino III (Malacanang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is ready to provide livelihood and welfare assistance to the mining victims in Antique.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said they were ready to assist the victims of the open-pit coal mine of Semirara Mining Corporation (SMC), which collapsed on Friday, killing at least 6 workers.

“What we provide to Kentex workers as livelihood and welfare assistance is also available to Semirara workers,” said Baldoz.

The employees of Kentex fire incident in Valenzuela, who were injured or died were entitled to claim corresponding benefits under the Employees Compensation Program (ECP).

Under the program, a worker who was unable to work because of a work-related injury is entitled to receive cash benefit to compensate for the lost of income.

DOLE said the medical benefits of workers included reimbursement of medicine cost for the illness or injury; payment to providers of medical care; hospital care; surgical expenses; and the costs of appliances and supplies that they availed from accredited hospitals.

Allowance is also provided to an employee who suffers permanent partial or total disability arising out of work-related injury or illness, the extent of which is such that he could not attend to his basic personal needs on his own.

After the EC claim has been approved, the beneficiaries are now qualified to enroll under the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay), which offers the following programs and services: physical restoration which refers to the provision of physical or occupational therapy services including assistive devices, such as prosthesis, hearing aid, braces, and wheelchair to name a few; skills training for re-employment so that the worker can acquire new competencies or skills but subject on his potentials and residual functional capacity; and entrepreneurship training to enable the worker to set up home-based business.