EMPLOYERS LIABILITY TO PAY COMPENSATION-LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND CHALLENGES

AUTHOR – HARSHAVARTHINI I, STUDENT AT TAMILNADU DR. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY (SOEL)

BEST CITATION – HARSHAVARTHINI I, EMPLOYERS LIABILITY TO PAY COMPENSATION-LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND CHALLENGES, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (5) OF 2025, PG. 352-362, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344

ABSTRACT

The liability of employers to pay compensation for workplace injuries and occupational hazards has been a critical component of labour law and industrial relations. This paper explores the legal frameworks governing employers’ liability, focusing on statutory provisions, judicial interpretations, and international conventions. It examines key legislation such as the Employees’ Compensation Act, 1923 (India), and compares it with global practices to highlight similarities and divergences. The paper also addresses contemporary challenges, including the gig economy, unorganized labour sectors, and evolving workplace risks. It critically analyse the adequacy of existing laws in ensuring timely and fair compensation and discusses the need for reforms to address emerging labour dynamics and enforcement bottlenecks. The study concludes by proposing a more inclusive, adaptable, and enforceable compensation regime to safeguard workers’ rights in a changing employment landscape.

Keywords: Employers liability, workers compensation, occupational hazards, Employee compensation Act 1923, compensation, social security, occupational disease