Workers’ Compensation Systems Globally: the interface between Public Health and Corporate Responsibility for Socially just and equitable systems
1
1. Discipline of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
2
2. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
3
3. Netherlands Advisory Committee Occupational Diseases, Utrecht, Netherlands
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3768
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Globally, approaches to workers’ compensation differ between and within countries, but are largely dependent on the public health system providing the network and support for workers injured and diseased in the world of work. The panel will explore the international perspectives on the challenges of existing compensation systems, the challenges that prevent such systems from achieving their objectives and approaches in developing a system to promote an equitable, socially just and scientifically sound reparations for workers and their dependents. Diagnostic approaches vary across jurisdictions. Financial reparation is determined either through health severity, potential loss of income, or through a socially determined cost of disability. Some diseases have an undisputed work-causation, others multifactorial, but work has a substantial role. Disease progression over the lifetime, number of dependents, social needs at different timepoints may not be factored into compensation. Globally, informal work is increasing, and these workers are outside the compensation systems.
METHODS:
A facilitated panel discussion consisting of international experts in the field of workers compensation will address workers’ compensation systems which have met with challenges over the last 150 years: from unclear objectives, socially inequitable, compromised access by affected workers, diagnostic criteria and bureaucratic mechanisms, workers and their dependents are often disadvantaged
RESULTS:
Dick Heederik (Netherlands) will address “Estimating the social burden of occupational diseases – does compensation address this burden”. Hans Kromhout (Netherlands) will address “Workers Compensation or Prevention of Occupational Disease; a choice for employers!?”. Sujatha Hariparsad (South Africa) will address “The barriers of workers’ compensation for chronic disorders”. Rajen Naidoo (South Africa) will address “Compensation in a changing world of work: addressing casualization and informality”
CONCLUSIONS:
At the end of all the panel inputs, the moderator will present a series of 4-5 discussion points and will seek input and discussion from the audience.
Globally, approaches to workers’ compensation differ between and within countries, but are largely dependent on the public health system providing the network and support for workers injured and diseased in the world of work. The panel will explore the international perspectives on the challenges of existing compensation systems, the challenges that prevent such systems from achieving their objectives and approaches in developing a system to promote an equitable, socially just and scientifically sound reparations for workers and their dependents. Diagnostic approaches vary across jurisdictions. Financial reparation is determined either through health severity, potential loss of income, or through a socially determined cost of disability. Some diseases have an undisputed work-causation, others multifactorial, but work has a substantial role. Disease progression over the lifetime, number of dependents, social needs at different timepoints may not be factored into compensation. Globally, informal work is increasing, and these workers are outside the compensation systems.
METHODS:
A facilitated panel discussion consisting of international experts in the field of workers compensation will address workers’ compensation systems which have met with challenges over the last 150 years: from unclear objectives, socially inequitable, compromised access by affected workers, diagnostic criteria and bureaucratic mechanisms, workers and their dependents are often disadvantaged
RESULTS:
Dick Heederik (Netherlands) will address “Estimating the social burden of occupational diseases – does compensation address this burden”. Hans Kromhout (Netherlands) will address “Workers Compensation or Prevention of Occupational Disease; a choice for employers!?”. Sujatha Hariparsad (South Africa) will address “The barriers of workers’ compensation for chronic disorders”. Rajen Naidoo (South Africa) will address “Compensation in a changing world of work: addressing casualization and informality”
CONCLUSIONS:
At the end of all the panel inputs, the moderator will present a series of 4-5 discussion points and will seek input and discussion from the audience.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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