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Solidarity has requested an urgent meeting with Employment and Labour Minister, Mr Thulas Nxesi, and the Director-General of the Department, Mr Thobile Lamati, to address the lack of service delivery being experienced at the Compensation Fund.

“The Fund’s operations have ground to a complete halt over the past few months. This state of affairs has been brought on by the introduction of a new computer system implemented in September 2019,” said Adv. Hanlie van Vuuren, head of occupational health and safety at Solidarity, indicating that neither employees nor stakeholders are receiving any service owed to them by the Fund.

Solidarity assists and represents several employees who were injured in the course and scope of their duties and whose claims fall within the scope of the Compensation Fund.

“What is even more disconcerting is that now, roughly six months later, the system is still not operational and enquiries to the Fund remain unsuccessful. Currently, not even Compensation Fund staff members have access to the system,” continued Van Vuuren. “Due to this dire situation new claims cannot be registered, employees are not paid for periods of absence from work, and doctors cannot treat new patients because no new claim numbers are available. Payments cannot be processed either.”

Employers have a legal duty to pay compensation for loss of earnings up to a maximum period of three months. “The employees are suffering. The three-month period has long expired which leaves workers without income,” says Van Vuuren.

Compensation in terms of the Compensation Act falls within the ambit of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. “Failure to properly execute statutory duties will lead to Solidarity seeking every remedy available, including approaching the courts, the Human Rights Commission and the Public Protector,” Van Vuuren concluded.

Issued by Solidarity