Safety Employee Benefits in the

Philippines
"Covered on this comprehensive list of health, social and safety benefits are the standards
that provide occupational safety to the workers and general safety to the immediate
vicinity and within the workplace."
In the second Title of Book IV in the Labor Code of the Philippines covers the medical
benefits available to every employee in the Philippines. The term "employee" denotes any
person legally employed in the Philippines, any person compulsorily covered by the GSIS
under the Commonwealth Act 186, or any person compulsorily covered by the SSS under
Republic Act 1161. Covered within the second Title is a comprehensive listing regarding
the employee's compensation and state insurance funds. This section is broken into nine
chapters.

Book IV of the Labor Code of the Philippines covers at length the safety benefits
available to every legally employed worker in the Philippines. Covered on this
comprehensive list of health, social and safety benefits are the standards that provide
occupational safety to the workers and general safety to the immediate vicinity and within
the workplace.

This section of the Labor Code of the Philippines is divided into two distinct safety
benefit categories. The first title covers the medical, dental and occupational safety,
subdivided into two separate chapters, and the second title covers mostly on employees'
compensation and state insurance funds.

Here are the safety benefits available to the legally employed Filipino worker, according
to the provisions set in Book IV of the Labor Code of the Philippines:
(See: Labor Code of the Philippines, Book IV)

Title I: Medical, Dental and Occupational Safety

Chapter 1 Medical and Dental Services

Article 156 First-aid Treatment

Every employer(s), and by extension, the working establishment shall provide first-aid
kits and medicines readily accessible by the employee, in accordance to the safety
employee benefit regulations prescribed by the Department of Labor and Employment.
Other medicine and first-aid equipment should also be provided should the nature and
conditions of work may require it.

Furthermore, the employer(s) should take extra measures to see that a sufficient number
of employees are trained in using the available first aid equipment.

Article 157 Emergency Medical and Dental Services

Every working area is required to have free medical and dental attendance and facilities,
the disparities of which are detailed as follows:

• a full-time registered nurse is required if the number of employees is more than 50

 but less than 200

• a full-time registered nurse, a part-time physician and dentist and an emergency

clinic are required for workplaces with population exceeding 200 but less than 300

• a full-time registered nurse, a full-time physician and a dentist, plus an infirmary

with a one-bed capacity for every one hundred employee - for workplaces with
population that exceeds 300

Article 158 When Emergency Hospital Not Required (sic)

When the emergency clinic of the establishment is sufficiently provided to treat an
employee, emergency hospital is not required.

Article 159 Health Program

The employed company physician should develop and implement a comprehensive
occupational health program as a safety employees' benefit for the company.

Article 160 Qualifications of Health Personnel

The health personnel tasked for the safety employee benefits shall have the essential
knowledge in occupational safety and health, as well as the know-how in industrial
medicine. These health personnel shall pass the qualifications, criteria and conditions of
employment established by the Secretary of Labor and Employment.

Article 161 Assistance of Employer

The employer(s) and by extension the establishment is to provide all the necessary
assistance, medical and dental, to an injured or sick employee in case of emergency. In
event the severity of the injury and/or ailment supersedes the available medical
equipment, the employer(s) and by extension the establishment should make arrangements
to any hospitals in the locality for the employee's treatment.

6 Basic Employee Benefits in the

Philippines
Under the Philippine Labor Code are six
basic employee benefits, for an individual
who is legally working in the Philippines.
These basic employee benefits cover most
occupations, agricultural or non-
agricultural, provided that the associated
compensation for every salient Daily
Minimum Wages still apply.

Under general circumstances, any legally

employed worker who work eight (8) hours
a day on a 48 hours a week schedule is covered under the Philippine Labor Code.
Commencing from the time the employee starts to work and until twenty-four (24) hours
later is considered one work day. The eight-hour work need not be continuous and may be
staggered within the one workday stretch.

The term "employee" denotes any person legally employed in the Philippines, any person
compulsorily covered by the GSIS under the Commonwealth Act 186, or any person
compulsorily covered by the SSS under Republic Act 1161. Such employee is
automatically covered for these government mandated employee benefits.

Here are the Basic Benefits for Employees covered by the Philippine Labor Code:

1. Social Security Systems (SSS) Contributions

Republic Act No. 8282, otherwise known as the Social Security Act of 1997,
refers to the social security system in the Philippines that is initiated, developed
and promoted by its Government. The social security system is aimed at providing
protection for the SSS member against socially recognized hazard conditions, such
as sickness, disability, maternity, old age and death, or other such contingencies
not stated but resulted in loss of income or results to a financial burden.

The employee and his/her employer(s) are to contribute for the social security
benefits of the said employee in accordance to a given schedule by the Philippine
Social Security System. Monthly employee contribution depends on the
employee's actual monthly salary. (See: Circular No. 33-P)

2. Contribution to National Health Insurance Program (NHIP)

The employee and his/her employer(s) are to contribute for the medical insurance
of the said employee in accordance to the Republic Act 7835 on Medicare
Program which is administered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
(Philhealth). Monthly employee contribution depends on the employee's actual
monthly salary. The contribution schedule is provided by Philhealth. (See:
Philhealth Premium Contribution Schedule)

3. Contribution to Home Development and Mutual Fund (HDMF)

The employer(s) is required to contribute per month not less than P100.00 to the
employee's Home Development and Mutual Fund. In accordance to the periodic
remittance schedule provided by HDMF, the employer(s) will remit this
contribution, in addition to that of the employee's, which is to be deducted from
his/her payroll.

4. The 13th Month Pay

As mandated by the Presidential Decree No. 851, the employee shall receive a
bonus salary equivalent to one (1) month, regardless of the nature of his/her
employment, not later than December 24 of every year.

5. Service Incentive Leave

Book III, Chapter III of the Labor Code of the Philippines covers the employee's
benefit for Service Incentive Leaves. According to Article 95, an employee who
has rendered at least one year of service is entitled to a yearly five days service
 incentive leave with pay. (See: Article 95, Conditions of Employment)

6. Meal and Rest Periods

Under Article 83, the employee is provided a one-hour employee benefit for
regular meals, when working on an eight (8 hour) stretch. Employees are also
provided adequate rest periods in the morning and afternoon which shall be
counted as hours worked. (See: Article 83, Conditions of Employment).

All these provisions apply in addition to every new employee benefits furnished that are
in excess of what is stipulated by the Philippine Labor Code. Other regular Philippine
employees benefits furnished by the employer(s) but are outside of the mandated
employee benefit includes, but not limited to:

1. Housing and housing plans

2. Expense Account
3. Company sponsored vehicle
4. Paid Holiday and Vacation

5. Educational assistance or plans to the employee and/or his direct dependents.

Health Benefits for Employees in the

Philippines
Book IV of the Labor Code of the Philippines
covers the entirety of the social welfare, safety and
health benefits available to every employee in the
Philippines. Take note that the term "employee"
denotes to any person legally employed in the
Philippines, any person compulsorily covered by
the GSIS under the Commonwealth Act 186, or
any person compulsorily covered by the SSS under
Republic Act 1161 (See: Article 167 Definition of
Terms).

Book IV of the Philippine Labor Code is divided into two main titles, which in turn is
divided into a number of subchapters. The first title covers mostly on the physical aspect
of protecting an employee's health and well being within the workplace. The second title
mostly refers to mostly the intangibles that promote the employee's benefits of health and
wellbeing.

The contents of Book IV of the Philippine Labor Code are as follows:

Title I: Medical, Dental and Occupational Safety

Chapter I Medical and Dental Services

Article 156, First-aid Treatment

Every workplace, regardless of its nature, should have first-aid medicines and equipment
readily available for use as a primary health benefit.

Article 157, Emergency Medical and Dental Services

Every workplace, regardless of its nature, should have free medical and dental facilities
plus, a health specialist in attendance, as part of the health care benefit to be enjoyed by
the employee.

Article 158, when emergency hospital not required (sic)

The article determines when an emergency hospital or dental clinic should be made
available. When there is an access clinic in the workplace and one that can sufficiently
meet the requirements for treating a particular injury or disease, emergency hospital is not
required.

Article 159, Health Program

The physician employed by the company shall develop and implement a healthcare
benefit program to be used for the employees.

Article 160, Qualifications of Health Personnel

The health personnel employed or tasked with the health benefits and welfare of the
employees shall pass the qualifications, criteria and conditions of employment as set by
the Secretary of Labor and Employment.

Article 161, Assistance of Employer

The employer shall provide for the necessary assistance to ensure that the workplace
meets the adequate criteria of safety. In cases of emergency, the employer should also
provide adequate and immediate medical and dental aid to a sick or injured employee.

Title II: Employees' Compensation and State Insurance Fund

Chapter I, Article 166 details the System's policy. It is stated here that the Government
shall promote and develop a tax-exempt employees' compensation program whereby the
member employees and/or their dependents may promptly secure adequate financial
health benefits and/or medical related health benefits in the event of work-connected
disability or death by the member employee.