Taking responsibility

The wife of a construction worker who suffered a stroke at the workplace has appealed to the DAILY TRIBUNE for assistance after her husband’s employer allegedly refused to shoulder any part of his hospitalization, claiming the illness was not work-related.

Marites Seguilla, a household helper, said her husband’s company is attempting to evade responsibility for covering part of the medical expenses of Ricky Seguilla, a finishing mason.

“All we’re asking is for them to help shoulder the medical treatment. They claim they bear no responsibility. To make matters worse, the company even threatened to sue us if we continued pressing our request,” Marites said in an interview.

The construction company was identified as CONMECH Construction, a Mandaluyong City-based firm owned by brothers Jose Ramon “Mon” Gonzalez and Enrique “Bong” Gonzalez.

However, human resource personnel Mary Rose Macalinao maintained that the company is not liable, saying Seguilla did not sustain injuries during work hours, such as slipping, or an accident at the construction site, such as being hit by falling debris or suffering deep cuts and wounds while working.

Macalinao said Seguilla, whom she alleged has an underlying hypertension condition, fainted while at the workplace and was rushed to the nearest clinic upon their advice.

She said Seguilla was later released by the Mandaluyong clinic and returned home, stressing that the worker suffered a stroke while already at his house.

“We advised him to have a checkup and not to report for work if he was not feeling well. What we can shoulder are accidents that happened while at the construction site,” the HR personnel said.

Nosy Tarsee found that based on the rules of the Employees’ Compensation Commission, stroke may be considered compensable if it arose out of or in the course of employment.

“A construction company is generally liable for financial assistance and medical benefits if a worker suffers a stroke during work hours, provided it is proven to be work-related or caused by, or aggravated by, the nature of the employment,” it said.