Examining the scope of “in the course of employment” as a prerequisite for entitlement to compensation under the workmen and employees’ compensation acts

When a person is employed, the employee is expected to work or render services to the employer. During the employment, it is possible that the employee suffers injury which is expected to be compensated. The Workmen Compensation Act and the Employees Compensation Act are legislation that deals with compensation for work related injuries. Both Acts require that for an employee to be entitled to compensation for work-related injuries, the injury complained of, must have occurred ‘in the course of the employment.’ The issue is: when can an injury be said to have occurred in the course of the employment? This article adopts doctrinal method and relies on both primary and secondary data to examine the scope of this requirement under both laws and their extent of compliance with international best practices in the field of workplace-related injury.