Bureau of Labor Insurance: employees can apply for work accident compensation if getting COVID-19 on the way to work

Many people have switched to home working due to the recent COIVD-19 surge in Taiwan. However, there are still people who have to go to the office. And taking public transportation is their only option.

The  Bureau of Labor Insurance  mentioned if employees can apply for compensation for occupational accidents is they were infected with COVID-19 while going to work or leaving work, they 

Moreover, if the person is severely ill (such as lung damage), he/she can receive a work accident compensation pay, which is a maximum of nearly NT$2.75 million. 

Employees can apply for compensation for occupational accidents as long as there is evidence that proves they were at the same location with a COVID-19 patient. Image courtesy of Liberty Times Net.

According to the law, if a person is injured during work, he/she can receive work accident compensation pay. And the employer should take responsibility for the accident, and provide compensation pay.

But as for injuries that occur while going to work or leaving work, the employers do not have to take responsibility, since the employer cannot control the outside environment. But employees can still receive work accident compensation pay.      

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Employee may be infected with COVID-19 while taking the bus or the MRT to work or after work. Image courtesy of Up Media.

Bureau of Labor Insurance  says they will review the compensation for occupational accidents applications. If an employee takes the bus or MRT to work and was infected with COVID-19. They can apply for compensation for occupational accidents as long as there is evidence that proves they were at the same location with a COVID-19 patient.     

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If the employee becomes disabled, such as loss of lung function or incapacity to work, he/she can receive compensation for 60 months maximum.。Image courtesy of The Bureau of Labor Insurance.

compensation for occupational accidents offers an amount of money (according to the insured payment) during the months when employees are unable to work. Employees can receive 70% in the first year; 50% in the second year, up to two years. 

If the employee passes away, his/her family can receive compensation for 45 months maximum. And if the employee becomes disabled, such as loss of lung function or incapacity to work, he/she can receive compensation for 60 months maximum.