Information For Employers
Insurance Requirements
Under the Work Injury Compensation Act, employer is required to maintain insurance for employees who are involved in manual work or non-manual work where his total earnings do not exceed $1,600 per month, unless exempted by the Minister by notification in the Gazette.
It is not mandatory for employers to buy insurance for employees who are involved in non-manual work and have monthly earnings of above $1,600. Nonetheless, employers will be required to pay compensation in the event of a valid claim, even if they do not buy insurance for this group of employees.
When an employee is injured
Employers are required to report work-related accidents to MOM within the time stipulated below:
| What to report |
Reporting timeline |
| Where the accident results in the death of an employee |
Within 10 days of the occurrence |
| Where the accident results in any incapacity that renders the employee unfit for work for more than 3 consecutive days, or is admitted in a hospital for at least 24 hours for observation or treatment |
Within 10 days of the occurrence |
Failure to report a work-related accident is an offence that carries a fine of up to $5,000 for a first-time offence, and a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a jail term of up to six months for subsequent offences.
Employers are required to report the accident immediately to their insurance company for the purpose of work injury compensation.
After claim has been filed
Arrangements for medical assessment of injured employee
The employer is required to send the medical report form given by MOM, to the treating clinic/hospital, together with the medical report fees as stipulated by the clinic/hospitals. This is for the assessment of any permanent incapacity sustained by the employee. The medical report fees should be borne by the employer.
Obligations while awaiting Notice of Assessment by MOM
In addition to any permanent incapacity assessed by the treating clinic/hospital, the employer is also responsible under the Work Injury Compensation Act for the following:
-
all medical expenses incurred for treatment by any Singapore-registered medical practitioner or in any approved hospital within one year from the date of accident, or up to a cap of $25,000, whichever is reached earlier; and
-
full pay up to 14 days of outpatient medical leave and 60 days of hospitalization leave; 2/3 salary for the remaining period of medical/hospital leave, payable up to a maximum period of one year following the date of accident. Medical leave wages are to be paid to the employees no later than the usual payday.*
*Public holidays, rest days and non-working days are excluded from the number of medical leave granted to the employee. For public holidays, while these are not granted as paid medical leave under the Work Injury Compensation Act, the employee may be paid for the public holidays as his entitlement under the Employment Act.
Receipt of Notice of Assessment
Upon receipt of the completed medical report form from the clinic/hospital, MOM will assess the compensation amount payable and issue a Notice of Assessment (NA) to the employee, employer and insurer. The NA will indicate the amount of compensation awarded. In some cases, the doctor may award permanent incapacity of 0% i.e. no permanent incapacity sustained.
If no party has objected to the Notice of Assessment (NA) within 14 days after the service of the NA, the employer/insurer is required to pay the compensation amount within 21 days after the service of the NA.
If there is objection to the NA, MOM will hold pre-hearing conferences to help resolve the objections. Any objection that cannot be resolved amicably will be referred for Labour Court Hearing. Employer’s presence may be required at the pre-hearing conferences and Labour Court hearing.
After all objections have been resolved, the Commissioner will order the compensation to be paid within 21 days from the date of order. Interest (at prescribed rates) may be imposed for late payment of compensation.
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