Were you recently injured at work or know of someone who might have been?
Minister of State (MOS) for Manpower Sam Tan launched the Return to Work (RTW) Programme on 1 November 2017 to help injured workers recover and get back to work.
The programme includes the support of a coordinator to assist in the process. The coordinators will partner injured workers to speak with doctors to understand the medical condition and find out the type of medical support they need. They will also talk to their employers to understand the workers’ job duties and develop a plan for them to rejoin the workforce.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will be working with seven public hospitals to roll out the programme in the next 12 months.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital embarked on the initiative on 25 September 2017. The other hospitals will be following suit in 2018.
Funding
MOM and the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council will also provide funding to hospitals to train about 40 healthcare professionals to become coordinators by 2020.
They will also set up a new grant worth $500,000 which allows employers to claim up to an additional $7,000 per worker for return to work services if the total medical expenses exceed the current limit of $36,000 under the law.
The grant also supports expenses related to workplace adjustments not claimable under the law. Employers can claim up to 90 per cent of total costs subject to a cap of $1,000 per worker.
Role of Parties
MOS Tan called on all parties to make the programme a success.
“Doctors need to work with RTW Coordinators to formulate recovery and RTW plans. Employers need to create an inclusive environment for workers and be ready to accept and accommodate injured workers back to their workplaces.
“Unions can play a role too by encouraging workers to be open to the changes in their job scope and be ready to adapt. Injured workers play a critical role. They need to stay positive and motivated, and be active participants in the return to work process,” he said.
MOM first announced the programme at this year’s Committee of Supply debate, following a call from Labour Member of Parliament Melvin Yong for a scheme to help injured workers back to work.
In a Facebook post, Mr Yong, who is also the secretary for the NTUC WSH Committee said NTUC has been working closely with its tripartite partners on the initiative since its announcement.
“We will continue to enlighten, enable and engage our unions on the RTW programme so that they can effectively implement it on the ground. With the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, we can help our injured workers recover and reintegrate back to work quickly so that their livelihoods are not adversely affected,” he said.
