Parvez Akbar

From 1 January 2019 all workers will be compensated for injuries and deaths as a result of an accident arising out of or in the course of employment, and accidents occurring on any school premises, on a no-fault basis.

All applications (for employees or pupils) for compensation for injuries and deaths as a result of an accident arising out of or in the course of employment, and accidents occurring on any school premises from 1 January 2019 must be made to the Accident Compensation Commission Fiji (ACCF)

Funding for the scheme is being sourced from the 1% FNU levy so employers do not need to do anything other than continue to pay their FNU levy.

The funding model adopted by Government for this scheme is a win-win for all parties given the 150% rebate incentive available to tax paying organisations. Employers now do not need to purchase insurance to cover work-related injuries or pay anything extra to ACCF or any other entity.

The Workmen’s Compensation (Repeal) Act 2018 provides that any policy of insurance issued before 1 January 2019 for work-related continues to be valid, and the insurance company
issuing any such policy of insurance must continue to provide insurance cover as provided for under the policy of insurance until the expiration of the policy of insurance.

ACCF understandssome insurance companies have varied the expiration date of their policies to 4.30pm, 31 December 2018.

Employers should check the basis of this variation with their insurance company and obtain legal advice regarding the terms and conditions of their policy of insurance.

Workers who are not covered by a policy of insurance for work-related accidents until 31 December 2018 will need to pursue their application for compensation with the Workers’
Compensation team at the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations.

ACCF will shortly be announcing the details on where and how to make applications for compensation for employment and school accidents.

In the meantime, all queries can be referred to [email protected], or 9907911 and 9406240.