The objective of the Voluntary Rehabilitation Programme for Employees Injured at Work (VRP) is to provide timely and free rehabilitation services to injured employees for better and speedier recovery and to facilitate their safe and early return to work.

Background
The VRP was launched on a pilot basis by the Labour Department in March 2003. The pilot programme was targeted at injured employees in the construction industry. It was then extended to the catering, transportation and manufacturing industries in November 2004. In order to benefit more injured employees, the VRP is now extended to all industries.

Who can participate?
The VRP covers injured employees in all industries. Insurers who participate in the VRP would identify appropriate cases and invite injured employees to join the programme.

Participation of injured employees in the VRP is entirely voluntary. They can decide on their own whether to accept the insurers' invitation or not. If they have difficulties in continuing with the programme after joining, they may withdraw from it at any time. In case of doubts, injured employees may approach the Labour Department or their labour union for assistance.

Why participate?
The VRP provides injured employees an additional channel to receive free and timely medical evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation services from medical / rehabilitation clinics in the private sector. With timely medical intervention, injured employees can recover faster and the resulting permanent impairment can likely be reduced.

Who will provide the rehabilitation services?
Rehabilitation services are provided by insurers through qualified health care professionals who are registered under the relevant Ordinances, e.g. specialist doctors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and registered nurses, etc.

What kind of rehabilitation services will be provided?
In general, rehabilitation services may include medical treatment, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, etc. The types of rehabilitation services to be provided would depend on the injured employees' individual circumstances and needs.

What is the rehabilitation process?
The rehabilitation process may vary taking into account individual circumstances and needs. Typical steps involve initial assessment on the medical conditions of injured employees by rehabilitation professionals, drawing up of a suitable rehabilitation plan and explanation of the plan to the employees. During the rehabilitation process, progress reports will be prepared by the rehabilitation professionals. At the end of the programme, they will also prepare a case closure report. Participating insurers should appoint an "Injury Management Coordinator" to coordinate and follow through the whole rehabilitation process.

Injured employees should actively participate in the rehabilitation programme and follow the advice of the rehabilitation professionals. Injured employees have the right of access to their rehabilitation reports. To enable the treating doctors / hospitals to have a better understanding on the recovery of the employees, insurers may provide rehabilitation reports to the doctors / hospitals with prior consent from the employees.

What is Return-to-Work/(or "Work Trial")?
Return-to-work (or "Work Trial") is the arrangement made for injured employees to take up light duties during the recovery process. This can accelerate the recovery of injured employees and build up their confidence in resuming full duties. It can also facilitate them in adapting to the work environment upon full recovery.

Rehabilitation professionals will recommend "Work Trial" for injured employees in appropriate cases. As a prerequisite for work trial, the attending doctor has to certify that the injured employees are fit for work trial and specify the detailed arrangements, such as nature of work, hours of work and duration of "Work Trial", etc. Insurers and the employers concerned are then responsible for working out the necessary arrangements.

Will "Work Trial" adversely affect recovery?
"Work Trial" is an integral part of the rehabilitation process. It should not adversely affect the employees' recovery. Moreover, the "Injury Management Coordinator" appointed by the participating insurers should follow-up and coordinate the arrangements for "Work Trial" so as to ensure a smooth and safe return to work.

How to calculate periodical payment for "Work Trial" period?
If an injured employee is unable to regain his full earning capacity during the "Work Trial" period and earn less than before the accident, he is entitled to periodical payment during this period of "Temporary Partial Incapacity" in accordance with the Employees' Compensation Ordinance. The amount of periodical payment equals to four-fifths of the difference between the employee's monthly earnings at the time of the accident and his monthly earnings during the period of temporary incapacity.

Who pay for the rehabilitation services?
Under the VRP, participating insurers will pay for all the rehabilitation services. Injured employees need not shoulder any costs.

Will the statutory benefits of injured employees be affected?
The statutory benefits of injured employees will not be affected by the VRP. The statutory compensation for work injury will still be calculated in accordance with the Employees' Compensation Ordinance.

Assessment of permanent incapacity will continue to be conducted by the Employees Compensation Assessment Board appointed by the Commissioner for Labour in accordance with the Employees' Compensation Ordinance.

What is employers' role?
Employers should give the injured employees encouragement and support as well as show their care during the rehabilitation process.

If the attending doctors certify that the injured employees are fit for "Work Trial", employers should as far as possible provide work trial opportunities to the injured employees. During the "Work Trial" period, employers and injured employees should communicate and work closely with the "Injury Management Coordinators" and rehabilitation professionals so as to ensure a smooth and safe return to work.

Which insurers have participated?
Please click here to acquire a list of insurers who have participated in the Voluntary Rehabilitation Programme.

Enquiry
Enquiries on the VRP can be directed to the relevant branch office of the Employees' Compensation Division, Labour Department.

Address of the Branch Office of Employees' Compensation Division

Version: August 2007