Singapore has launched a new program to help injured employees rejoin the workforce as soon as possible, with a dedicated coordinator overseeing their recovery and return to work process.
Under the Return to Work (RTW) scheme, a coordinator will liaise with medical professionals and employers to assist the injured employee and improve overall return to work rates.
“Providing the right services and support to the worker and employer as early as possible following a workplace injury is critical to improving recovery and return to work outcomes," said Singapore’s Minister of State for Manpower, Sam Tan.
The coordinator will:
· communicate with the patient's doctor to understand the injured worker’s medical condition
· determine what specialist medical support he or she needs
· talk to the worker's employer to understand their employee's job duties, identify barriers and opportunities for recovery and getting back to work
· review the worker’s capacity and work options
The minister said a study by Tan Tock Seng hospital showed having a RTW case manager assigned to the injured worker to help with rehabilitation was effective.
Employees with access to a RTW case manager returned to work 10 days earlier, on average, than those without one, Tan added.
Over the next 12 months the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will partner with seven public hospitals to roll out RTW programmes progressively.
Tan Tock Teng Hospital has already rolled out its RTW programme on September 25; the other hospitals will follow suit next year.
Melvin Yong, Secretary of the
National Trades Union Congress Workplace Safety and Health Council Committee, said on Facebook:"I am heartened that we now have a RTW programme in place with RTW coordinators to better assist and support our workers should the unfortunate happen."
MOM and the council will fund training in hospitals of allied healthcare professionals to become RTW coordinators. About 40 coordinators will be trained in the next two years.
Further, a grant of S$500,000 will support companies who participate in the programme. Employers can claim up to an additional $7,000 per worker for RTW services if expenses exceed $36,000 – the current limit.
The grant can also support expenses related to workplace adjustments not claimable under the current Workplace Injury Compensation Act. Employers can claim up to 90 per cent of total costs subject to a cap of S$1,000 per worker.
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