Statute Details
- Title: Work Injury Compensation (Declaration of Government Employees) Declaration 2021
- Full Title: N/A
- Act Code: WICA2019-S155-2021
- Type: sl
- Commencement Date: N/A
- Parts: N/A
- Key Sections: Section 2: All employees of the Government are declared to be employees for the purposes of the Act.
- Related Legislation: Work Injury Compensation Act 2019
What Is This Legislation About?
The Work Injury Compensation (Declaration of Government Employees) Declaration 2021 is a subsidiary legislation made under the Work Injury Compensation Act 2019 (WICA 2019) in Singapore. The purpose of this Declaration is to explicitly declare that all employees of the Government are considered "employees" for the purposes of the WICA 2019, and are therefore entitled to the benefits and protections provided under that Act.
The WICA 2019 establishes a no-fault compensation system to provide financial assistance to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. By declaring government employees to be covered under this Act, the Declaration ensures that these public sector workers have access to the same work injury compensation scheme as private sector employees.
What Are the Key Provisions?
The Work Injury Compensation (Declaration of Government Employees) Declaration 2021 contains only two main provisions:
Section 1: Citation and Commencement
This section states that the Declaration is cited as the "Work Injury Compensation (Declaration of Government Employees) Declaration 2021" and is deemed to have come into operation on 1 September 2020.
Section 2: Government Employees
This is the core provision of the Declaration. It states that "All employees of the Government are declared to be employees for the purposes of the Act." In other words, the Declaration explicitly brings all government employees within the scope of the WICA 2019, entitling them to the same work injury compensation benefits and protections as private sector workers.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Work Injury Compensation (Declaration of Government Employees) Declaration 2021 is a short, two-section subsidiary legislation made under the authority of the WICA 2019. The first section deals with the citation and commencement of the Declaration, while the second section contains the substantive provision declaring government employees to be covered by the WICA 2019.
There are no further subdivisions or parts within the Declaration. It is a self-contained piece of legislation focused solely on expanding the definition of "employee" under the WICA 2019 to include government workers.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Work Injury Compensation (Declaration of Government Employees) Declaration 2021 applies to all employees of the Government of Singapore. The term "Government" is not defined within the Declaration itself, but based on the context of the WICA 2019, it is reasonable to interpret this as referring to the central government, including all ministries, departments, and statutory boards.
By declaring these government employees to be "employees" for the purposes of the WICA 2019, the Declaration ensures that they are entitled to the same work injury compensation benefits as private sector workers covered under that Act. This includes the right to claim compensation for work-related injuries, illnesses, or deaths.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
The Work Injury Compensation (Declaration of Government Employees) Declaration 2021 is an important piece of legislation that helps to ensure equity and consistency in the provision of work injury compensation benefits in Singapore.
Prior to this Declaration, there was some ambiguity around whether government employees were considered "employees" under the WICA 2019 and therefore entitled to its protections. By explicitly declaring that all government employees are covered, the Declaration removes any doubt and guarantees that public sector workers have access to the same no-fault compensation scheme as their private sector counterparts.
This is significant because government employees, like other workers, face risks of work-related injuries and illnesses. Ensuring they are covered by the WICA 2019 means they can receive financial assistance to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs associated with work injuries, providing an important social safety net.
From an enforcement perspective, the Declaration also clarifies that the Ministry of Manpower and other relevant authorities have the power to investigate and adjudicate work injury claims made by government employees. This helps to streamline the claims process and ensure consistent application of the law across the public and private sectors.
Related Legislation
- Work Injury Compensation Act 2019 (WICA 2019)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Work Injury Compensation (Declaration of Government Employees) Declaration 2021 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.