COIDA is the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act. This is the new name for WCA or Workmen’s Compensation Act.
It is an occurrence of which the date, time and place can be determined that arises out of and in the course of an employee’s employment and resulting in a personal injury or death.
Anyone, except domestic workers in private homes, who is employed under a contract of service and receiving wages, may claim compensation in terms of COIDA. Dependants of an employee who is fatally injured can also claim compensation. Casual employees’ rights are exactly the same as full-time employees.
If you are off work for three days or less, you will not receive compensation. Medical expenses will be paid if the claim is reported and accepted.
For the first three months that you are booked off from work, your employer must pay you 75% of your wages or salary. The employer will claim this back from COID.
If you are off work for more than three months the money must be claimed directly from COID (if the employer does not pay you anymore).
If you have a permanent injury, such as deafness, blindness, amputation of a limb or an injury that permanently disables you, i.e. for the rest of your life, or when a fatal injury happens, it will be assessed according to the percentage of disability laid down in the Act.