Work Injury Benefits
Disability / Work Injury Benefit
Work injuries are classified as permanent, temporary, or fatal, with compensation based on severity. Benefits include lump sums for disability, wage-based payments for temporary incapacity, and survivors’ benefits for fatal injuries.
Work injuries are divided into three categories: (i) permanent incapacity (ii) temporary incapacity and (iii) fatal injury leading to death of a worker.
If the employee is assessed with a total disability, a lump sum of 60 months of the insured worker’s monthly earnings is paid. If the employee requires the constant attendance of others to perform daily functions, up to 25% of the permanent disability benefit will be paid as constant attendant allowance. For partial permanent disability, a percentage of full permanent disability benefit is paid based on the assessed degree of disability.
For temporary disability, 66% of the difference between the employee’s monthly earnings before the work injury occurred or the occupational disease began and the employee’s monthly earnings (actual or potential) afterwards is paid for up to six months. This may be extended for an additional three-month period of up to 24 months with the approval of the Commissioner for Workmen's Compensation. A lump sum can also be paid under certain circumstances.
Where the employee has passed away due to his injuries, the compensation payable to or for the benefit of the worker will be payable to the deceased worker’s dependents. A lump sum of 48 months of the employee’s monthly earnings minus funeral costs is paid to the survivors. However, a reduced benefit is paid to survivors who were only partially dependent.
Source: §15-20 of the Workers Compensation Act, 1998; ISSA Country Profile