The Assistant Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister, Sakiusa Tubuna, has reported a rise in workplace injury claims. During a presentation to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, Tubuna revealed that claims increased from 196 in 2019 to 682 in 2020, highlighting a significant surge in reported workplace injuries.
He raised concerns about whether this increase is due to employers neglecting workplace safety or failing to adhere to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) protocols.
Ajeet Charan, an accountant for the Accident Compensation Commission Fiji (ACCF), suggested that the rise in claims is largely linked to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Charan noted that while accidents may have occurred prior to the pandemic, the disruptions caused led to a higher number of compensation claims being filed. He explained that employees were less likely to push employers for claims when they were still receiving wages during the pandemic.
Charan also mentioned that heightened public awareness campaigns run by ACCF during this time had a role in increasing compensation applications.