Parliament - A turnaround of the Compensation Fund (CF) to improve
service delivery is at an advanced stage, Labour Minister Mildred
Oliphant said on Tuesday.
Speaking in the National Assembly during debate on her
budget vote, she said the CF was enhancing the integrated claims
management and financial management systems.
These new IT systems would improve the turnaround time in processing claims and improve service delivery, she said.
It was projected that compensation benefits amounting to R3.2bn would be paid by the end of the 2011/12 financial year.
The CF aimed to increase revenue collection through
web-based registration of employers, electronic submission of the return
of earnings (ROE), and employer assessments -- details of which would
be announced in the next few days.
While the web-based submission of ROEs would be
introduced in the first quarter, electronic submission of medical
accounts and provision of pharmaceuticals was targeted for the second
quarter.
Oliphant said the CF's total investments were currently at R28bn, with reserves of R15bn.
The fund allocated five percent of its total
investment, which amounted to R1.4bn, to alleviate unemployment
through socially responsible investments.
This would contribute to job creation and infrastructure development, she said.
The CF had also given strong emphasis to internship and
learnership programmes during the past year, including those targeting
the youth, women, and people with disabilities.
The rehabilitation and re-integration policy had now
been developed and the next step would be consultation with all relevant
stakeholders.
Oliphant said the policy framework was aimed at
promoting rehabilitation, reintegration, and the return to work of
injured and diseased employees through case management, re-skilling, and
other compensatory mechanisms.