Work Injuries (excludes domestic workers)

Qn: What are my legal rights should I get injured in the work place?
Ans: Under the Work Injury Compensation Act, your employer is legally obliged to purchase an accident insurance for you. This is to provide basic benefits to workers should they be injured at the work place. It is a punishable offence if work accident insurance is not purchased for you.

When an accident takes place (such as falling from a height, or if you are hit by a heavy object) your employer has to report the accident to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Failure to do so is an offence, You will be entitled to claim compensation if your injury is work related and it results in some form of disability (e.g you cannot bend your fingers completely)

In addition, your employer is responsible for the following:

a) All outpatient medical expenses (including medical consultation fees and medicines
b) Up to S$5000 hospitalisation costs (e.g operation, surgery etc)
c) Medical leave wages for the period in which you were incapacitated (i.e.unable to work)

*** Your employer has to settle ALL outstanding claims with you before sending you back to your country. If he or she does not do so, it is your right to remain in Singapore and lodge your claim to the Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM).