$6M loss prompts Employment Ministry to take over ACCF functions

A reported $6 million loss under the previous compensation system has prompted the Ministry of Employment to take over claims processing from the Accident Compensation Commission Fiji, a move that has since saved the government $1.2 million annually, and cleared a massive backlog of cases.

This was revealed by Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh in Parliament today, as he responded to questions from Deputy Speaker Lenora Qereqeretabua and Opposition Member Alvick Maharaj on the impacts of the transition.

Singh says the annual $1.2 million saving comes from eliminating outsourcing costs previously paid to a private provider, along with the removal of a $300,000 CEO package at ACCF.

He confirms the compensation claims are now fully handled by the Ministry.

He also says that the Ministry has cleared nearly all of the 2,000 backlog cases inherited from ACCF, with only five cases currently unresolved.

While responding to concerns about whether the no-fault policy—under which ACCF was able to process compensation within weeks—would continue, Singh has reassured the Parliament that workers can still expect timely payouts.

He says the Ministry has nearly doubled the number of processed benefits compared to ACCF’s output. He also acknowledged that ACCF’s no-fault approach allowed faster processing by removing disputes over liability, which enabled quicker payouts to injured workers and their families.

To further protect workers’ rights, Singh says the Ministry has extended the claims period from three years to six years, giving more time for affected individuals to apply for compensation.

He also says that bringing both employment and school-related accidents under the Ministry ensures a more streamlined and accountable system.

By directly linking compensation with enforcement, Singh says the Ministry is promoting greater responsibility among employers and school authorities.

Singh adds that the Ministry’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) inspectors now have greater powers to enforce safety standards and penalize non-compliant employers, contributing to a reduction in workplace accidents.

In the last financial year, the Ministry received 48 complaints from injured workers regarding non-payment of the mandatory two-thirds weekly wage compensation.

Of those, Singh says 44 were resolved through employer engagement and joint meetings, while four remain under legal review by the Office of the Solicitor General.