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Source:
www.mindef.gov.sg |
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Reply by Minister Teo Chee
Hean on Compensation for Dead and Injured Servicemen |
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Mr Siew Kum Hong: To ask the Minister for
Defence |
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(a) what is the rationale for pegging the
compensation for dead or injured NSmen to the Workmen¨s Compensation
Act; |
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(b) what are the quanta of monthly payments
to NSmen who are disabled or paralysed in the course of duty; |
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(c) whether the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)
Group Insurance Scheme covers death or injuries in the course of duty;
and |
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(d) whether the SAF will consider paying for
group life and/or disability insurance for non-commissioned full-time
NSmen. |
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Minister Teo: |
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I thank Mr Siew Kum Hong for his
questions on compensation as it allows MINDEF to clarify our
compensation framework. |
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MINDEF applies similar principles and
practices used by the civil courts or the Workmen's Compensation
Act (WCA) to determine compensation for deaths and injuries due to
service. |
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Based on these principles, MINDEF's
compensation framework for death consists of up to three
components. |
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The first and base component is the
lump sum compensation equivalent to sums prescribed under the
Ministry of Manpower's Workmen's Compensation Act. |
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It ensures that full-time national
servicemen (NSFs) and NSmen receive amounts that are no worse off
than that claimed under the WCA. Above this, more compensation is
payable through two other components. |
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The second component is a lump sum
death gratuity. For NSFs and NSmen, MINDEF treats them like
regulars and gives a minimum of one year's basic pay for a regular
of the same rank. |
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The third component is provided when
there may have been negligence on the part of the organization, or
where the serviceman has rendered service beyond the call of duty. |
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This is based again on principles
consistent with those used in civil courts. The quantum is
generally derived taking into consideration, amongst other
factors, what the serviceman would have contributed to his
dependants from his potential earnings. |
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For permanent disability arising from
service, MINDEF's compensation framework consists of up to four
components. |
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Again, the first and base component is
a lump sum disability compensation according to the guidelines
provided under the WCA. |
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Above this, the second component pays
a lump sum constant attention award, if the serviceman requires
constant care as a result of his disability. |
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The third component is a monthly
disability assistance, which varies from person to person
according to his circumstances, to defray expenses. |
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The fourth component is an additional
lump sum compensation provided when there may have been negligence
on the part of the organization, or where the serviceman has
rendered service beyond the call of duty. |
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In addition, MINDEF also provides
fully subsidised medical benefits at all government/restructured
hospitals or clinics, and the medical supplies needed for service
injuries, for as long as the serviceman requires it. |
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Because the base component in our
compensation framework uses the Workmen's Compensation Act as the
reference, compensation amounts for deaths, injuries and
disability due to service would provide amounts not less than
those prescribed under the Workmen's Compensation Act, and in most
cases more than this amount. |
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For the additional lump sum
compensation, MINDEF uses the principles applied by civil courts
to determine compensation amounts. This is a fair system based on
prevailing practices and awards. |
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Today, MINDEF also has an Awards
Appeal Tribunal to consider appeals from servicemen or their
dependants on compensation. |
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To provide greater assurance to our
servicemen and their families that compensation is fair, and
applied according to the principles I have described, MINDEF
intends to replace the Tribunal with a new Compensation Board that
will be chaired by a non-MINDEF officer. The details are being
worked out. |
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Mr Siew also asked about insurance in
the SAF. |
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Insurance is a question of whether the
organization wants to pass on the potential liability of paying
compensation to an insurance company to carry. |
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MINDEF does not buy insurance for its
servicemen because MINDEF itself takes on the liability of paying
compensation its servicemen for deaths and injuries arising from
service through MINDEF's compensation framework. |
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As explained earlier, this framework
applies similar principles and practices used by the civil courts
or the Workmen's Compensation Act (WCA) to determine compensation
for deaths and injuries due to service. |
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However, servicemen may purchase
additional insurance coverage if they wish to. This is similar to
employees who would choose to buy additional insurance for
personal protection even though they are covered under the WCA or
have recourse to civil courts to claim damages. |
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The SAF has the SAF Group Insurance
Scheme, which provides- coverage for death and permanent
disability from $50,000 to a maximum of $400,000. This covers
servicemen both during the course of duty and when the serviceman
is off duty. |
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The premiums are affordable and MINDEF
will continue to look for more competitive premiums for the
coverage, and encourage our servicemen to take this up. For
example, servicemen can currently insure themselves for $100,000
with a monthly premium of $16. NSmen can also take up this
insurance even after their active service. |
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As needs would vary among individuals,
we leave it to the servicemen to determine what level of
additional insurance coverage they would want to purchase. |
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Source:
www.mindef.gov.sg News
Release 17 Jul 2007 |
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FrontPage Edition: Sun 22 July 2007
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