Compensation for accidental deaths during work doubled

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

Compensations to workers in case of accidental deaths have been doubled in keeping with an initiative taken by the Government to ensure social safety of workers.

Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Athauda Seneviratne said compensations paid to accidental deaths of workers have been increased from Rs. 250,000 to Rs. 500,000 .

The Minister was speaking at a workshop held on Monday at the Bogala Mines premises for its workers.

It was held to mark the National Occupational Safety and Health Week that began last Wednesday (October 7).

Minister Seneviratne handed over compensations to three families of workers who had lost their lives due to occupational accidents. He also handed over Shrama Vasana scholarships to children of these families.

He said the Government had taken this initiative after it concluded that the disbursement of Rs. 200,000 which was hitherto paid as compensation for an occupational death was not enough.

The office of the Commissioner of Workmen's Compensations is taking action to pay increased monetary compensations to workers' families and their dependents, he said.

If an employee getting a monthly salary of Rs. 20,000 or more should die as a result of an accident in the course of employment, a disbursement of Rs. 550,000 will be be paid to his dependents as compensation, he explained. He said the current laws cover a workforce of 3,500,000 which is 30 percent of the total workforce in the country.

"Action will be taken to provide a social safety network without delay that will encompass all areas of work under new legislation," he said.

"A new Act will be presented in Parliament in this regard," he added.