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Employers' Frequently Asked Questions

What are the employers' obligations regarding worker's compensation insurance?
How are workers' compensation premiums calculated and how are they paid?
What constitutes wages or payments for the purposes of workers' compensation premium calculation?
Do I have to register as an employer with NT WorkSafe for the purposes of workers' compensation?
What are the employers' obligations regarding workers' compensation?
How can I assist my worker to return to work and be productive?

What are the employers' obligations regarding worker's compensation insurance?

Under the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act of the Northern Territory, employers must hold a workers' compensation insurance policy with an approved insurer:

They employ a person who provides work or service for them and does not provide the employer with an Australian Business Number (ABN) in writing; or
The employer is based outside of the Northern Territory and has persons providing work or service for the employer within the Northern Territory and those persons do not provide the employer with an ABN in writing.

How are workers' compensation premiums calculated and how are they paid?

Approved insurers assess workers' compensation insurance premiums and determine the rates charged to the employer. This is based on the industry type, claims history, wages bill and number of employees. A good claims record in conjunction with good occupational health and safety practices may influence the premium to be paid.

What constitutes wages or payments for the purposes of workers' compensation premium calculation?

Gross payments for wage and salary earners, family members and company directors include:

1. Wages, salaries, bonuses, allowances, commission and all other remuneration paid, including pays in respect of holidays, sickness, and long service leave.

2. Overtime.

These are not prescribed by the legalisation, but are simply guides for insurers and employers.

Do I have to register as an employer with NT WorkSafe for the purposes of workers' compensation?

In the Northern Territory employers do not register as an employer with NT WorkSafe. However as an employer you are required to have workers' compensation insurance cover with one of the NT approved worker's compensation insurers.

Your workers' compensation insurer will advise NT WorkSafe of all the new and renewed workers compensation policies, this will include your details.

What are the employers' obligations regarding workers' compensation?

When a worker is injured and seeks to make a workers' compensation claim an employer should:

Make a compensation claim form available to the worker;
Forward the worker's claim form to the insurer within three (3) working days of receiving it from the worker;
If the insurer accepts liability for the workers claim, then weekly payments of compensation must be made by the employer commencing within three (3) working days of the decision to accept the claim. These benefits are payable from the date of first incapacity.
If the insurer defers liability, weekly payments of compensation must commence within 3 working days of that decision. These payments are to commence with one weeks pay and continue for up to 8 weeks within which time the insurer will either accept or reject liability. If the claim is subsequently accepted, compensation owing must be offset by any amounts paid during the period of deferral. If the claim is rejected the deferral payment will cease. This payment is not recoverable from the injured worker.
Take all reasonable steps to provide the injured worker with suitable employment; and so far as is practicable, participate in efforts to retrain the worker.