COIDA Amendment Act: Commencement Dates Gazetted

Posted 23 January 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Labour

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The President has issued a proclamation determining the commencement dates for the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Amendment Act, No. 10 of 2022, which substantively reforms the 1993 principal Act.

In terms of the proclamation, the majority of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Amendment Act, No. 10 of 2022, is now in force. However, the proclamation explicitly excludes certain members of the South African National Defence Force and the South African Police Service from the newly substituted definitions of ‘earnings’ and ‘employee’.

The Amendment Act introduces critical chapters to the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, No. 130 of 1993, specifically focusing on the rehabilitation, reintegration, and return-to-work of employees who have suffered occupational injuries or contracted occupational diseases. It also formally incorporates domestic workers into the definition of ‘employee’, following previous judicial mandates.

Staggered Implementation Dates

While most sections are active immediately, the proclamation provides for a deferred commencement for specific administrative and governance provisions:

  • 1 February 2026: Sections affecting the appointment and functions of the Compensation Board will come into effect.
  • 1 April 2026: Sections relating to assessments, the submission of claims, and the imposition of penalties for non-compliance will come into effect.

The Act further empowers the Compensation Commissioner to review and adjust the nature of benefits and the method of calculating compensation, while strengthening the inspectorate’s powers to enforce compliance with the Act’s provisions.

Click here to download the Presidential Proclamation and Amendment Act details.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: Professional advisors must update internal compliance registers to reflect that domestic workers are now fully integrated into the COIDA framework, while noting the specific exclusions for certain security personnel.
  • For your business: Employers must immediately review their internal policies regarding rehabilitation and reintegration, as the new chapters governing the return-to-work process for injured employees are now in force.
  • For your clients: Clients should be advised that while new penalty and assessment regimes only trigger on 1 April 2026, the obligation to register domestic workers and comply with the expanded definition of ‘employee’ is currently active.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/occupational-injuries-and-diseases-2022-compensation-amendment-act-commencement-dates-gazetted

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