WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ACT (Insurance coverage by employers)

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Labour the number of workmen who have been insured by their employers in accordance with the Workmen's Compensation Act.

The Minister of State for Labour (Mr Sia Kah Hui) (for the Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, statistics on the number of workmen who have been insured by their employers are not available. It should be pointed out that until the coming into force of the Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Act in November, 1971, employers were not legally required to insure against their liability under the Act.

It would, however, appear that most of the employers do have insurance policies to cover their workmen. From reports received from employers when submitting their accident reports, it is estimated that more than 95 per cent of the employers have insured their workmen under the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act.