Skip to content
Menu

Insurance premium compliance

WorkCover Queensland has Authorised Persons who can carry out administrative compliance actions to identify and administratively penalise employers who don't hold adequate workers’ compensation insurance.

WorkCover uses sophisticated data matching systems to link to Federal and State Government agencies. Under-insured or uninsured employers may also be identified through online wage audits, employer site visits or various education and awareness campaigns undertaken by WorkCover throughout the year.

For employers who are uninsured or under-insured, WorkCover can recover unpaid premium along with a penalty equal to 100% of the unpaid premium.  Also, if WorkCover has paid compensation or damages for an injury sustained by a worker when the employer was uninsured or under-insured, WorkCover can also recover the amount of the payment made together with a penalty equal to 50% of the payment.

In addition, WorkCover will refer certain matters for uninsured and under-insured employers to Workers’ Compensation Regulatory Services for investigation and possible prosecution.

WorkCover compliance activity 2021-2022 - to 31 March 2022

ActivityNumber Amount recovered
Employer wage audits 288 $7,920,331
Premium raised for uninsured employers 55 $867,890
Employer site visits 201 $56,885
Action against uninsured employers where a claim was made 191 $2,577,227
Classification reviews 27 $337,643
Total762$11,759,976

Wage audits completed by industry

Industry Wage audits
Construction 73
Accommodation and food services41
Manufacturing 25
Retail trade23
Transport, postal and warehousing 21
Health care and social assistance19
Wholesale trade18
Administrative and support services13
Agriculture, forestry and fishing11
Other services10
Education and training 8
Public administration and safety 6
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services6
Professional, scientific and technical services 5
Arts and recreation services 4
Labour hire 2
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services2
Financial and Insurance Services1