The Ministry of Employment, Productivity & Workplace Relations (MEPWR) resumed responsibility for handling employment and school accident compensation cases, effective 1 June 2024. This decision follows the interim ACCF Board’s ruling to return the functions from the Accident Compensation Commission Fiji (ACCF) back to the Ministry.
This was highlighted by the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Honourable Agni Deo Singh in Parliament yesterday, while responding to the question on the impacts and advantages of transferring the compensation processing from the ACCF to the Ministry
Minister Singh welcomed the transfer, noting its positive impacts for workers, students, and their families.
“By bringing employment and school accident cases back under the Ministry, we are better aligning compensation with workplace safety laws, reducing delays, and providing a true one-stop service for our people. This change ensures faster, fairer, and more accountable support for injured workers, students, and their families,” said the Minister.
The transfer of employment and school accident cases back to the Employment Ministry is already delivering significant benefits for workers, students, and their families. Cases are now handled directly by the Ministry, making the process easier and faster. Injured workers, students and their dependents no longer need to go through outside providers whereby the services were previously outsourced to, as all services are available in one place.
The Ministry’s dedicated staff are helping to expedite decisions, while safety inspectors are working to ensure employers comply with occupational health and safety laws.
Over the past year from June 2024, a total of 44 out of 48 wage-related complaints on non-payment of two-thirds of wages were successfully resolved, showing that the system is now more efficient and accountable.
“By managing employment and school accident cases internally, the Ministry is saving the government approximately $1.2 million annually, while improving accountability and service delivery,” the Minister said.
He added that in the five years it was outsourced, the government had lost $6M, which could have been saved.
The Ministry is also progressing legislative reforms, with the Work Care Bill presented to Parliament earlier this year. Now under review by the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, the Bill aims to modernize compensation frameworks and address existing gaps both legal and operational under the Accident Compensation Act 2017.
The Ministry this financial year was allocated $7 million for compensation payout and had utilised 34.40% just in the first two months (August – September) of the financial year.