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As the country races to the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, the department of Employment and Labour continues to offer services that either shields the workers from the worst of the effects of the pandemic or at worst, compensate workers who contract it at work.

With regard to compensation, a total of 3424 Covid-19 claims have been received – 2036 directly to the Compensation Fund and a further 1314 to Rand Mutual while Federated Employers have received 74 claims.

Rand Mutual, which operates under licence as granted by the Minister of Employment and Labour and covers mostly workers in the mining and iron and steel industries has paid out R3.3-million in dependent benefits while the CF has paid R202 172 in medical aid claims for workers who have contracted Covid-19 while on duty.

Of the 2036 claims received by the CF, 1425 come from the Western Cape followed by Eastern Cape with 319, KwaZulu-Natal with 145, Gauteng with 69, Mpumalanga 45, North West 29, Limpopo three and Northern Cape with one. 

The CF has accepted liability to 1229, which represents 60.4% of the claims received, repudiated 193 which is 9.5% and 614 await adjudication which represents 30.1% of the claims received directly.

The claims received by Rand Mutual shows that Gauteng has received 949 claims, 137 in the Eastern Cape, 67 in the WC, 56 in KZN, 29 in NW, 21 in Limpopo, 18 in the Free State and 37 are unknown. Of the 1314 claims received so far, 1253 or 95.4% percent are pending adjudication.

Federated Employers who represent workers mostly in the construction sector has received 74 claims – mostly from the Western Cape (26) and Gauteng (26), Northern Cape (9), North West (8), KwaZulu-Natal (4) and one (1) in the Free State.

As the CF Commissioner Vuyo Mafata has pointed out, in cases where the claims have been repudiated, with better information, the claim could still be approved and the CF will accept liability. 

In the meantime, the Department has appealed to companies to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to safeguard the lives of workers in the workplace. It is also encouraging all workers to do the basics like washing hands, where possible to keep safe distances and wear the appropriate protective gear of which the minimum is the mask covering the nose and mouth.

Submitted by the Compensation Fund