MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill that aims to provide workers in the public and private sectors with mandatory life and additional health insurance for their protection during public health emergencies similar to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. “Nobody must be forced to choose between dying from an infectious disease or dying from hunger,” she added. She explained that under the bill, workers who will fall ill due to an “infectious disease subject of the declaration of public health emergency” would be entitled to full payment of medical bills. If an employee already used up their sick leave, they could still avail of the “flexible sick leave” and it would not be deducted from their existing 15-day statutory sick leave credits, she further noted. For frontline health workers, premiums would be paid for by the government.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 30, 2020 05:48 UTC