Is WICA insurance compulsory for office staff? The S$2,600 rule explained

By the TRS broking team24 Oct 20266 min read

The short answerWICA insurance is compulsory for every employee doing manual work, whatever they earn, and for non-manual employees earning S$2,600 a month or less. Office staff above S$2,600 are still covered by the Act if they are injured at work; the employer is simply not required to insure them.

Who must be insured under WICA?

The Work Injury Compensation Act sets two groups an employer must insure: all manual workers, regardless of salary, and non-manual workers earning S$2,600 or less a month.

Manual work means work that is mainly physical: construction, cleaning, warehousing, delivery, kitchen work. Non-manual work is mainly office or desk work.

Employee	Insurance compulsory?
Manual worker, any salary	Yes
Non-manual, S$2,600 or less a month	Yes
Non-manual, above S$2,600 a month	No, but the Act still applies

What happens if a higher-paid office worker is injured?

The Act covers all employees under a contract of service, insured or not. If an office manager earning above S$2,600 is injured at work, the employer still owes compensation under the Act.

Without insurance, that compensation comes from the company's own funds. That is why many employers extend their WICA policy to every employee rather than only the compulsory groups.

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What does WICA compensation cover?

Compensation covers medical expenses, medical leave wages, and lump sums for permanent incapacity or death. MOM raised the limits from 1 November 2025: up to S$269,000 for death, up to S$346,000 for total permanent incapacity, and medical expenses up to S$53,000 or one year from the accident, whichever comes first.

What are the penalties for not insuring?

Failing to insure employees the Act requires you to insure is an offence, with fines and possible imprisonment. It also leaves the company paying any claim itself.

How should an employer check its cover?

Compare the policy schedule against the current headcount and payroll. Check that every manual worker and every non-manual employee at or below S$2,600 is declared, with the right occupation and wages. Under-declared wages can leave a claim short.

Frequently asked questions

Is WICA the same as workmen's compensation?

Yes. WICA replaced the older Workmen's Compensation Act; the term workmen's compensation is still used informally.

Does WICA cover part-time staff?

The Act covers employees under a contract of service, including part-timers. Whether insurance is compulsory follows the same manual and S$2,600 rules.

Are interns and freelancers covered?

Freelancers and independent contractors are not employees under the Act. Interns may be, depending on the arrangement; check the contract.

Sources

General information only, not advice on any particular policy. Cover depends on the policy wording and the insurer's terms.

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