The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK) has ruled against compensating a Norwegian soldier for lasting injuries suffered during service in Afghanistan. The injury suffered while in a vehicle during a military operation in Afghanistan is not an occupational injury according to the SPK, newspaper Dagbladet reports.
The SPK reasons that the operation in Afghanistan falls within the job description and that this work involves the risk of injury - in other words, that is not covered by insurance since injury risk is part of the daily routine. "This is by definition a waiver of responsibility. If you are stupid enough to go on an international operation, you have to take the hit yourself. If you are injured, you don't get compensation," the former soldier told Dagbladet's web site.
Negotiation leader Ragnar Dahl of the Joint Officers Union believes that the case will hurt the recruitment of personnel for international assignments. "The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund line means that people taking part in various operations have incredibly poor insurance coverage. I must say this frightens me," Dahl told Dagbladet.
The compensation rejection will now be tested in the courts. |