Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (COID) Amendments Bill proposes that the Compensation Commissioner assume responsibility of the Act
The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (COID) Amendments Bill is proposing that the Compensation Commissioner is the accounting authority for the Fund.
Addressing a COID Bill public hearing at Gateway Hotel in Durban Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund (CF) Legal Practitioner, Irish Lephoto said this means that the Commissioner will effectively take over the administration of the Act, functions and powers of the Director-General in virtually all respects. He said the exclusion proposed will be on financial matters in which accountability will still rest with the Director General.
In terms of the current provisions of the Act, the Director General (Labour) is the Accounting Authority.
According to Lephoto to further address other governance issues the COID Amendments Bill proposes that an independent chairperson be appointed to chair the Compensation Board.
Lephoto said an independent board will play an oversight role on the delegation of duties.
The COID amendments further proposes that in order to strengthen the financial management of the Fund, assets and liabilities will from time to time be valued by an actuary appointed by the Commissioner to determine the sufficiency and the liquidity of the Fund.
The COID Amendments Bill was unveiled in October for public consumption. The Department of Labour Compensation Fund is currently hosting the national public hearings to collect public comments before the Bill is signed into law.
The most significant amendments proposed to the COID Act are to enact the provisions regulating:
Inclusion of domestic workers under the category of employees for purposes of benefits in terms of the Act.
Rehabilitation and Reintegration framework of injured and or diseased employees into the workplace;
Administrative amendments
Improvement of some benefits
The COID Amendments Bill public hearings roadshow started on 19 November in Upington. More public hearings have been held in Kimberley, Bloemfontein, Bethlehem, Klersksdorp, Rustenburg, Nelspruit, Witbank, Tzaneen, Polokwane, Johannesburg and Pretoria.
The next public hearing session will be held tomorrow (December 6) in Pietermaritzburg at Ascot Wedding and Conference Venue. Submission of comment to the Bill closes on 18 December.
The remaining public hearings will be held as follows:
Port Elizabeth � The Beach Hotel on 10 December 2018
East London � Premier Hotel Regent on 11 December 2018
Cape Town � Stellenbosch Lodge on 12 December 2018
George � Chilly and Chive Lodge on 13 December 2018
All the public hearings will be held from 09:00-11:00 am.
Source: Government of South Africa