Singapore: Fraudulent Work Injury Compensation claims have earned four workers jail sentences of between eight and three weeks.
In the first case, Indian national Irulan Veerasekaran filed a claim in January stating that a co-worker had caused a severe cut to his left thumb with a cutter while doing gardening work at a condominium.
Investigations by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) found that all co-workers had been having a tea-break when the accused emerged with the injury that had been self-inflicted.
MOM charged the worker under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) and he was sentenced to eight weeks' jail in October 2009.
Also jailed in October, but for four weeks, was Salim Hossain Badar Uddin, a Bangladeshi national.
Last April, the worker claimed that he was hit by a car while crossing the road to his dormitory after work. However, MOM found that the man had not worked on the day he claimed but had been chatting with co-workers opposite his dormitory.
Another Bangladeshi national Mamud Abdul Hoque, was sentenced to five weeks’ jail for filing a hip injury resulting from tripping over some wires, when the injury was in fact sustained from a fall before work, while resting at a carpark.
As for PRC national Li Zhenlong, he filed for a broken wrist as a result of work even though the injury wasn’t sustained during the course of work, but during a basketball game.
Li later admitted that he had lied about the accident and was sentenced to three weeks’ jail in March 2010.
The WICA is a no-fault system designed to compensate employees who are injured in the course of employment.
However, as Mr Koh Juan Kiat, Executive Director of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) noted, some employers worry that it works primarily to the benefit of workers.
"MOM's prosecution of the four workers for fraudulent WIC claims should be assurance for employers that workers who misuse the WIC system will be taken to task by MOM," said Koh.
Mr Clarence Tang, Director, Work Injury Compensation Department (MOM) pointed that workers who abuse the claims process waste the time and resources of MOM, which could have been deployed to help workers in genuine need.
"MOM will not hesitate to take action against false claimants who abuse this system" he said, adding that those who make fraudulent claims may be fined of up to $15,000 or jailed up to 12 months or both under the WICA."
Commenting on the four cases,Mdm Halimah Yacob, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Deputy Secretary General said that for WICA to work effectively, both employers and workers need to understand the provisions well and to behave responsibly.
“Since the WICA took effect from 2008, workers and unions have generally given feedback that WICA now provides better protection and benefits."
Employers have been reminded that work accidents must be reported to MOM within 10 days of an accident that results death, renders an employee unfit for work for more than 3 consecutive days or hospitalisation for at least 24 hours.
Those who fail to report or lodge a late report face a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine while repeat offenders face a fine of up to $10,000 and a jail term up to 6 months.
- CNA/sf
In the first case, Indian national Irulan Veerasekaran filed a claim in January stating that a co-worker had caused a severe cut to his left thumb with a cutter while doing gardening work at a condominium.
Investigations by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) found that all co-workers had been having a tea-break when the accused emerged with the injury that had been self-inflicted.
MOM charged the worker under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) and he was sentenced to eight weeks' jail in October 2009.
Also jailed in October, but for four weeks, was Salim Hossain Badar Uddin, a Bangladeshi national.
Last April, the worker claimed that he was hit by a car while crossing the road to his dormitory after work. However, MOM found that the man had not worked on the day he claimed but had been chatting with co-workers opposite his dormitory.
Another Bangladeshi national Mamud Abdul Hoque, was sentenced to five weeks’ jail for filing a hip injury resulting from tripping over some wires, when the injury was in fact sustained from a fall before work, while resting at a carpark.
As for PRC national Li Zhenlong, he filed for a broken wrist as a result of work even though the injury wasn’t sustained during the course of work, but during a basketball game.
Li later admitted that he had lied about the accident and was sentenced to three weeks’ jail in March 2010.
The WICA is a no-fault system designed to compensate employees who are injured in the course of employment.
However, as Mr Koh Juan Kiat, Executive Director of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) noted, some employers worry that it works primarily to the benefit of workers.
"MOM's prosecution of the four workers for fraudulent WIC claims should be assurance for employers that workers who misuse the WIC system will be taken to task by MOM," said Koh.
Mr Clarence Tang, Director, Work Injury Compensation Department (MOM) pointed that workers who abuse the claims process waste the time and resources of MOM, which could have been deployed to help workers in genuine need.
"MOM will not hesitate to take action against false claimants who abuse this system" he said, adding that those who make fraudulent claims may be fined of up to $15,000 or jailed up to 12 months or both under the WICA."
Commenting on the four cases,Mdm Halimah Yacob, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Deputy Secretary General said that for WICA to work effectively, both employers and workers need to understand the provisions well and to behave responsibly.
“Since the WICA took effect from 2008, workers and unions have generally given feedback that WICA now provides better protection and benefits."
Employers have been reminded that work accidents must be reported to MOM within 10 days of an accident that results death, renders an employee unfit for work for more than 3 consecutive days or hospitalisation for at least 24 hours.
Those who fail to report or lodge a late report face a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine while repeat offenders face a fine of up to $10,000 and a jail term up to 6 months.
- CNA/sf
