The Department of Labor and Employment assured that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be covered by expanded insurance coverage amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic has left our migrant workers vulnerable to various risks and perils. By expanding the compulsory insurance coverage, we aim to extend the protection to all OFWs, at no cost to our workers,” DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello said in a statement.
The expanded insurance coverage policy guarantees benefit in case of death, disability, repatriation, medical emergency, and litigation.
DOLE said that $15,000 or approximately PHP785,000 will be provided as survivor’s benefit in case of accidental death while at least $10,000 or PHP524,000 will be given in case of natural death.
For disability benefits, they will receive $7,500 or PHP393,000.
The insurance policy must also cover the repatriation of OFWs.
Manning and recruitment agencies must secure the insurance coverage while foreign employers must pay for the insurance coverage.
