Ministry of Employment pays over $13 million for 563 workers who died between 2008-2018

563 people died while at work from 2008 to 31st December 2018 and their families have been paid a total of $13.296 million by the Ministry of Employment.

This has been confirmed by the Minister for Employment, Parveen Bala in parliament today. He says over the 10 year period, a total of 11,558 cases were reported to the Ministry that were investigated.

Bala says of these reported cases, 86% were injury-related while 14% of cases were death related.

The Minister says of these cases, $15.460 million was paid for 4,007 injury cases.

He says this comprises of 2,941 private sector injury cases with the compensation payment $8.576 million and 1,066 injury cases for government with the compensation payment of $6.884 million.

Bala has also highlighted that of the 563 deaths, 65 deaths were of individuals in the private sector with compensation of $1.510 million paid out as compared to 498 deaths in the public sector where a total compensation of $11.786 million was paid out.

The Minister says that over the 10 year period, the Ministry managed to settle and close 10,768 cases and as of 12th March 2021 the total compensation payment of $28.757 million was made to the workers who were injured during the period.

Bala adds the top 4 high risk industries where majority of the work place accidents occur were the construction industry, wholesale and retail, restaurants and hotels and manufacturing. The Minister has also highlighted that of the total number of 790 pending cases, the Ministry has completed the process of 50% of the cases while the remaining 50% of the pending cases are currently under investigation by the Ministry.

He adds that the main challenge the Ministry has in resolving these cases is that these cases were subject to procedures under the repealed Workers Compensation Act where the cases are disputed by the employers based on the fault based system.

Meanwhile, National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad says he is particularly pleased that the Minister was able to provide a summary of the details on workers compensation.

He adds that the Minister however did not add the time that was involved in the lodgement of a particular complaint or accident and when and how it was resolved.