Q: Recently one of my cousins died in a fire accident, which occurred in his accommodation. The accommodation was badly planned and was a dangerous place to live in. However, the company has repatriated his body to his home country. But he did not receive any insurance benefit. Very little amount of gratuity was received in his name. What can be done to get an insurance claim? A: If the employer is having any employee benefit schemes like Personal Accident Insurance or Group Life Insurance then some amount is recoverable from the insurers. Since your cousin's death occurred at the residence, there is no liability on part of the employer. However, the employer can be held responsible for the death if he has any responsibility vis-à-vis accommodation. But it has to be legally taken up and may take a lot of time and effort. Before you take the legal route, you discuss with the employer about the compensation for the bereaved to avoid legal hassles. On personal side also you may explore whether your cousin had any insurance policies and whether he was holding any linked insurance schemes, which will also give some compensation. Q: We have a housemaid hired locally. We will be needing the services of an additional maid for the coming month of Ramadan. Can you suggest what basic type of insurance we need for her. A: The relationship between you and your housemaid is the same as that of employer and employee. Hence as a responsible employer, you have to provide her with Workmen Compensation Insurance. Apart from this if can you provide her with Medical Insurance it will be better. Right now housemaids do not come under mandatory health insurance. However, most of the major insurance companies provide Housemaid Insurance in isolation and even as a householders package insurance. The costs are usually reasonable. Most of the insurance companies provide with a combination cover of WC and Medical Insurance. * Shujaath Ahmed Khan, an M.B.A., General Manager, Creative Associates is also a consultant and an expert in Insurance, Investments and Real Estate. He can be contacted at [email protected], website-www.creativeassociates.blogspot.com. __
