Two employers charged for failure to purchase work injury insurance

1. Extrovert Engineering Pte Ltd and Mr Suriakumar Ridgeway S/O Ramaiah, the sole proprietor of Ridgeway Marine & Construction, were charged on 8 June 2017 for failure to purchase work injury compensation insurance for 25 employees. Both employers face a total of 25 counts under the Work Injury Compensation Act (Chapter 354) (“WICA”).
   
   
2. Mr Suriakumar Ridgeway S/O Ramaiah faced an additional charge for non-payment of compensation to an employee injured in the course of his employment. He failed to comply with the compensation order of $9,144.97, issued by the Assistant Commissioner of Work Injury Compensation.
   
   
3. Employers who fail to pay work injury compensation to their employees or who fail to purchase work injury compensation insurance can be fined up to $10,000 or be imprisoned for up to 12 months, or both for each offence.
      
   Employers should fulfil their responsibilities towards injured workers
   
   
4. Ms Kee Ee Wah, Director of the Work Injury Compensation Department of MOM said, “WIC insurance allows employees to claim for work related injuries and helps employers from bearing the burden of hefty compensations and medical costs. WIC insurance is not only a requirement by law but protects employers against workplace liabilities. MOM will not hesitate to deal severely with employers who do not purchase WIC insurance and wilfully abscond from their responsibility to pay WIC compensation.”