Who Are Required To Purchase Work Injury Compensation Insurance?

Employers are required to continue to purchase insurance for employees who are already covered under the Act prior to 1 April 2008 (i.e. manual workers regardless of their level of earnings and non-manual workers with monthly earnings of $1,600 or less), unless they have been specifically exempted. Failure to do so constitutes an offence.

For employees who are newly covered under the Act (i.e. non-manual employees earning above $1,600 a month), the employers can decide whether or not to buy insurance for these newly-covered employees. Nonetheless, employers will be required to pay compensation (including medical leave wages and medical expenses) in the event of a valid claim, even if they do not buy insurance.