Escudero pushes broader protection and benefits for power sector workers

After pushing for VAT-free electricity to help ease household expenses, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has filed Senate Bill No. 498 seeking to mandate insurance coverage and additional benefits for line workers in the power sector.

In his proposed Line Workers Insurance and Benefits Act, Escudero underscored the critical yet hazardous nature of the work performed by line workers who build, maintain, and repair the country’s electrical transmission and distribution systems.

“They perform both critical and dangerous work, yet many of them do so without adequate protection against death, accidents, illness, and other risks that may be encountered in the line of duty,” Escudero said in the bill’s explanatory note.

The measure seeks to require private distribution utilities, electric cooperatives, and transmission or grid operators to provide insurance coverage and benefits, including retirement and disability benefits, death and burial assistance, and reimbursement of medical expenses.

Escudero emphasized that the bill’s coverage also extends to drivers, helpers, and support personnel deployed alongside line workers during construction, repair, and maintenance operations.

Under the proposal, employers will shoulder the full cost of insurance premiums, which shall not be deducted from workers’ wages. “This ensures that workers receive full protection without bearing any financial burden,” the senator said.

Escudero noted that the measure is based on House Bill No. 7561, which was approved by the House of Representatives during the 19th Congress. He stressed that providing insurance and benefits would help protect not only line workers but also their families from the risks associated with their occupation.

Currently pending before the Senate Committees on Energy and Labor, SB 498 is expected to be taken up as sessions resume next week. Escudero stressed the urgency of passing the measure, citing the daily hazards faced by power sector workers.

The proposed legislation forms part of Escudero’s broader agenda on consumer relief and labor protection, highlighting his push for both affordability and dignity in public service delivery.