Beirut blast highlights compulsory insurance coverage benefits of OFWs

THE tragedy that struck Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon, has truly shocked not just a nation that is already suffering from economic and political crises, but also the international community that is still struggling with the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and the ensuing worldwide economic recession.

As of this writing, reports are that the blast claimed more than 100 lives and injured 6,000 others. The explosion ripped through the city’s port area, triggered by a fire that ignited a warehouse full of ammonium nitrate. The resulting shock wave that rocked the city has caused death and damage not only to a number of Lebanese, but also to many of our fellow Filipinos working there.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA), four overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) the form of insurance benefits arising from the compulsory insurance coverage for agency-hired OFWs.

This insurance coverage for OFWs hired through manning or recruitment agencies was made mandatory through Republic Act (RA) 10022 in 2009, which amended RA 8042 or the “Migrant Worker and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.”

If the insured OFW dies, the compulsory insurance may provide his or her beneficiaries a benefit amounting to a minimum of $15,000 if the cause of death was an accident. If the OFW died of natural causes, his or her beneficiaries would receive $10,000. It is worth noting that suicide cases are also covered under this compulsory OFW insurance.

The compulsory OFW insurance is effective during the duration of the OFW’s employment. Thus, as long as the OFW’s employment contract remains effective while he or she encountered an accident that caused his or her death, he may receive the stated benefit under the insurance policy.

On the other hand, if an OFW becomes totally and permanently disabled, the benefit under the compulsory insurance is at least $7,500. However, the permanent damage should only refer to any of the following: both eyes, both hands, both feet or head (coma or insanity) due to an accident or any health-related cause or illness obtained and suffered during the time the OFW was employed. Losing sight in only one eye, or having only one hand or foot cut off, are not covered.

It should be noted that the disabilities mentioned above need not be work-related. As long as such disabilities were due to an accident, sickness or ailment during the duration of employment, the OFW may recover the stated amount under the policy. In relation to the OFWs in Lebanon affected by the blast, the incident could be considered an accident. If the OFWS had been employed during the accident and suffered a disability that falls under the conditions described above, they may avail of the said benefit.

Lastly, OFWs who were not hired through an agency or the OFWs’ beneficiaries may coordinate with their respective insurance companies regarding the benefits they may receive, if they were able to secure their insurance policy before departing to work in a foreign country.