The Accident Compensation Commission has paid $1.4 million compensation to families of victims of motor vehicle accidents until yesterday. 

Chief Executive Officer Parvez Akbar says the commission has made 16 payments worth $1.2 million already and it paid three more families yesterday.

Meanwhile, Accident Compensation Commission Fiji has announced that from 1st January next year, all workers will be compensated for injuries and deaths as a result of an accident arising out of or in the course of employment, and accidents occurring on any school premises, on a no‑fault basis.

Akbar says all workers are included in this.

He says all accidents in the workplace until 31st December will continue to be managed by the Ministry of Employment.

Akbar says all applications for employees or students for compensation for injuries and deaths as a result of an accident arising out of or in the course of employment, and accidents occurring on any school premises from 1st January next year must be made to the Accident Compensation Commission Fiji. 

The Commission says the funding model adopted by government for this scheme is a win‑win for all parties given the 150% rebate incentive available to tax paying organisations.

Employers now do not need to purchase insurance to cover work‑related injuries or pay anything extra to Accident Compensation Commission or any other entity.

It says some insurance companies have varied the expiration date of their policies to 4.30pm, 31st December this year.

It says employers should check the basis of this variation with their insurance company and obtain legal advice regarding the terms and conditions of their policy of insurance.

Workers who are not covered by a policy of insurance for work‑related accidents until 31st December 2018 will need to pursue their application for compensation with the Workers’ Compensation team at the Ministry of Employment.

The Accident Compensation Commission will shortly be announcing the details on where and how to make applications for compensation for employment and school accidents.