Any person who is employed or being trained by an employer, and is injured or gets sick on or because of the job can claim compensation. The following employees cannot claim compensation from the Fund:

• Domestic workers in private households
• Members of the south african national defence force and south african police services (they have their own fund)
• Outworkers to whom employers give articles to be made up or to wash or clean. Then they are not working under the control of the employer
• Employees who work outside South Africa for longer than 12 months at a time, unless there is a special agreement with the Commissioner

The Act says an employer has to pay compensation to the injured employee for the first 3 months from the date of the occupational injury. Thereafter, the Compensation Fund will pay. The Compensation Fund will repay the employer for the money that was paid.