More than 13,000 workers were hurt on the job last year. Of these, about 600 suffered major injuries. Some leave Singapore after receiving compensation and yet others leave empty-handed.
The report follows foreign worker’s Meng Xiangbo as he returns home after sustaining an injury to the spine that renders him disabled and reliant on the wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Workers in Singapore who are hurt on the job are covered by the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA), which allows them to claim compensation for work-related injuries and occupational diseases. They can also claim medical expenses, a lump sum for permanent injuries, and wages while on medical leave.
Claims can be made for up to one year from the date of the accident. Workers file claims with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) directly, without needing to go through a lawyer. There are caps on compensation: $204,000 for death, $262,000 for permanent incapacity and $36,000 for medical expenses or for one year from the date of accident, which comes first.
For Meng’s case, his claims were expedited by HealthServe, a non-governmental organisation that provides healthcare services, counselling and shelter for injured foreign workers. He will receive $327,500 in compensation in addition to $19,000 accumulated in wages while on medical leave.
As the sole breadwinner, Meng worries that the money will eventually run out. According to his estimate, this lump sum can only cover his family for three to five years.
However, there are still foreign workers that fall outside WICA coverage. Foreign workers such as maids, contractors, self-employed workers and uniformed personnel are not privy to such compensation schemes.
Read more here.
Source: The Sunday Times, 30 April 2017