This publication was jointly produced by AMRC and the ANROAV Network in 2005 looking at the workers' compensation system in the Asia Pacific region. The Asia Pacific region is diverse and OSH compensation systems vary from place to place. Yet there is a stark similarity in the manner workers face difficulties and are unable to access these systems. On paper most of the countries have framed laws that lay down procedures and rights for workers to claim compensation. There are some exceptions like Cambodia (which unfortunately is not covered in this volume) where the law in itself is totally inadequate and ambiguous without clear procedures for workers to follow.
At this juncture one may even look into the historical evolution of compensation systems. In basic terms we can say that they evolved over the years as a direct struggle of labour against the forces of capital with intervention from the state. Overall the laws on compensation can be classified into two main groups; one is the employers’ liability system where a worker can sue the employer for injuries and diseases; the other is the no-fault compensation system which is more like workers’ insurance and run by either state or private insurance companies. To read more, please download the whole publication...