SEN. Francis Escudero has filed Senate Bill (SB) 498, or the proposed Line Workers Insurance and Benefits Act, which requires private power distribution utilities, electric cooperatives, and transmission or grid operators to provide comprehensive insurance and statutory benefits to their line workers.
“They (the linemen) perform both critical and dangerous work. Yet a number of them do so bereft of any form of coverage against death, accidents, illness, and other fortuitous events that could be sustained in the line of duty,” Escudero said in the bill’s explanatory note.
Under the measure, covered workers would be entitled to life and accident insurance, retirement and disability benefits, death and burial assistance, and reimbursement of medical expenses arising from work-related injuries or illnesses.
The proposed coverage extends to drivers, helpers, and other support personnel deployed alongside line workers during construction, repair, and maintenance operations.
Escudero said the full cost of insurance premiums will be shouldered by employers and may not be deducted from workers’ salaries or benefits. “This provision ensures that workers receive full protection without bearing the financial burden,” he added.
The senator noted that the bill is patterned after House Bill 7561, which was approved by the House of Representatives during the 19th Congress.
“The provision of insurance coverage and other benefits would ensure that our line workers, as well as their families, are protected from the risks and perils of their chosen occupation,” Escudero added.
SB 498 is currently pending before the Senate Committees on Energy and on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development.
Escudero expressed hope that the measure will be prioritized as Senate sessions resume, citing the daily hazards faced by line workers, particularly during emergency repairs, typhoon responses, and large-scale infrastructure projects.
