In essence, the fund indemnifies employers in respect of occupational injuries that a domestic worker may suffer while duty and for occupational diseases (i.e. diseases arising out of the course and scope of his/her employment).

A domestic worker can then claim benefits as a result of his/her occupational injury or disease directly from the fund instead of from the employer.

The fund permits domestic workers to claim for reasonable medical expenses (for certain medical service providers and institutions that are gazetted from time to time) including claims for chronic medication where necessary.

Domestic workers who are temporarily disabled by virtue of an accident while on duty can claim a temporary disability benefit in the form of 75% of their remuneration while they cannot work (i.e. where their sick leave is exhausted).

Persons who are permanently disabled as a result of injuries can claim a disability lump sum or, depending on the extent of the disablement, a permanent disability pension.

Dependants of domestic workers who die as a result of an injury on duty or an occupational disease can also claim funeral benefits and surviving spouses, children, siblings etc may also have claims (for lump sum benefits and/or pension awards).

For a summary of the various benefits available to domestic workers, see the information on the inclusion of domestic workers published by the Department of Labour on 10 March 2021.