Statute Details
- Title: Work Injury Compensation (Workers' Fund) Regulations 2020
- Full Title: Work Injury Compensation (Workers' Fund) Regulations 2020
- Act Code: WICA2019-S730-2020
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation
- Commencement Date: 1 September 2020
- Parts: N/A
- Key Sections: Section 2: Definitions; Section 7: Payments for approved projects, schemes and purposes; Section 8: Procedure on receipt of donations; Section 11: Revocation and savings
- Related Legislation: Work Injury Compensation Act 2019
What Is This Legislation About?
The Work Injury Compensation (Workers' Fund) Regulations 2020 establish and govern the administration of the Workers' Fund, which is a fund set up to provide financial assistance and support to workers who have suffered work-related injuries or illnesses. The regulations outline the sources of the fund, its purposes, the procedures for making payments from the fund, and the management and dissolution of the fund.
The Workers' Fund is an important component of Singapore's work injury compensation framework, which is primarily governed by the Work Injury Compensation Act 2019 (WICA). The regulations supplement the WICA by providing the detailed rules and procedures for the operation of the fund, ensuring that it is utilized effectively to support injured workers and promote workplace safety and health.
What Are the Key Provisions?
The key provisions of the Work Injury Compensation (Workers' Fund) Regulations 2020 are as follows:
Sources of the Fund (Section 3)
The regulations specify the various sources that contribute to the Workers' Fund, including moneys standing to the credit of the fund before 1 September 2020, payments made under the WICA, amounts recovered in respect of ex gratia payments, grants, donations, and interest or dividends from investments.
Administration of the Fund (Section 4)
The fund is to be controlled and administered by the Commissioner, subject to the directions of the Minister. The Commissioner may invest the moneys in the fund in any manner authorized by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and the interest or dividends from such investments accrue to the fund.
Purposes of the Fund (Section 5)
The regulations outline the various purposes for which the moneys in the fund may be applied, including making ex gratia payments to injured workers or their relatives, financing rehabilitation schemes for injured workers, promoting industrial safety and health, and advancing workers' welfare. The regulations also specify the circumstances under which ex gratia payments may be made, such as to alleviate financial difficulties faced by injured workers or to defray medical expenses in certain cases where the worker's claim for work injury compensation has failed.
Procedure for Ex Gratia Payments (Section 6)
The regulations set out the procedure for applying for ex gratia payments from the fund, including the requirement for the application to be in the form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner. The Commissioner has the discretion to either reject the application or authorize and make the ex gratia payment, and the Commissioner's decision in such matters is final.
Payments from the Fund (Section 7)
The regulations empower the Commissioner to make payments (including ex gratia payments) from the fund at such rates and for such periods as the Commissioner may determine, subject to the Act and the regulations. However, the Commissioner must obtain prior approval from the Minister to make any payment that will result in the total amount paid for a particular project, scheme, or purpose exceeding $10,000.
Procedure on Receipt of Donations (Section 8)
The regulations require the Commissioner to issue a written acknowledgment and an official receipt to the donor (if known) upon receiving any donation to the fund, and to maintain a Register of Donors containing details of the donations received.
Accounts and Dissolution of the Fund (Sections 9 and 10)
The regulations mandate the Commissioner to maintain proper books of accounts for the fund and to keep subsidiary accounts where donors have specified particular purposes for their donations. The fund may only be dissolved if the Minister charged with the responsibility for finance so directs, and in the event of dissolution, all debts and liabilities of the fund must be fully discharged, and the remaining moneys are to vest in the Government.
Revocation and Savings (Section 11)
The regulations revoke the previous Work Injury Compensation (Workers' Fund) Regulations, but provide a savings provision for any advance from the fund granted before 1 September 2020 under the previous regulations.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Work Injury Compensation (Workers' Fund) Regulations 2020 are structured in 11 sections, covering the key aspects of the Workers' Fund, including its sources, administration, purposes, payment procedures, accounting, and dissolution. The regulations also include a schedule listing the occupational diseases for which ex gratia payments may be made in certain circumstances.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Work Injury Compensation (Workers' Fund) Regulations 2020 apply to the administration and utilization of the Workers' Fund, which is intended to provide financial assistance and support to workers who have suffered work-related injuries or illnesses. The regulations define "injured worker" broadly to include any individual, whether or not an employee or a platform worker, who is injured in an accident in the course of their work.
While the regulations do not directly impose obligations on employers or workers, the effective operation of the Workers' Fund is crucial in supporting the work injury compensation framework under the WICA, which applies to all employees and platform workers in Singapore.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
The Work Injury Compensation (Workers' Fund) Regulations 2020 are an important component of Singapore's work injury compensation system, as they provide the detailed rules and procedures for the administration and utilization of the Workers' Fund. This fund serves as a safety net for workers who have suffered work-related injuries or illnesses, particularly in cases where the worker's claim for work injury compensation under the WICA has failed or where the employer has failed to pay the required compensation.
The regulations ensure that the fund is managed and disbursed in a transparent and accountable manner, with clear procedures for making ex gratia payments, receiving donations, and maintaining proper accounts. This helps to ensure that the fund is utilized effectively to support injured workers and promote workplace safety and health, which are crucial objectives of the work injury compensation framework in Singapore.
Ultimately, the Work Injury Compensation (Workers' Fund) Regulations 2020 play a vital role in enhancing the protection and welfare of workers in Singapore, and in fostering a safer and more inclusive work environment.
Related Legislation
- Work Injury Compensation Act 2019
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Work Injury Compensation (Workers’ Fund) Regulations 2020 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.