Changes to the Work Injury Compensation Act to take effect on 1 June 2012

21 May 2012

The amendments to the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) will take effect on 1 June 2012. Employers are reminded to take note of the changes to their liabilities as an employer and to ensure that they maintain adequate insurance coverage for their workforce.

Updating the   compensation limits	Limits have been increased to account for increase in nominal   wages and healthcare costs.
Disallowing   compensation for   work-related fights	While work disputes may arise from time to time, employees   should not resort to fights to resolve them, and employers   should not have to bear the cost of such injuries.     Exceptions will be allowed such as when exercising private   defence, instructed to break up fight, safeguard life/property or   maintain law and order.
Expanding scope of   compensable   diseases	Disease due to work exposure to chemical or biological agent   will be compensable.     Second Schedule for Occupational Diseases have been   refined to include “Disease caused by excessive heat”, remove   “SARS” and “Avian Influenza”.
Disallowing work-   related exclusion   clause in WIC   insurance policies	Insurers will be required to make compensation payment even   if there are work-related exclusions. Insurers will be able to   seek contractually from employer.
Clarifying liability of   employer’s insurer	When there are multiple insurance policies, employer’s   insurance will be the default policy used to satisfy a claim.
Clarifying obligations     under WICA and   common law	Claimants who filed a common law claim but subsequently   wish to file a claim under WICA have to do so within one year of   accident. Beyond this one year timeframe, the claim will not be   admitted under WICA.

 

Courtesy from WSH Council. For more info, please visit http://www.wshc.sg