While QBE continues to focus on moving some jobs offshore, it says workers’ compensation data will remain in Australia.

“We have never planned to move workers’ compensation data offshore,” a spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “We treat the security of all data very seriously and manage our business with reference to privacy and other data regulations.”

The assurance comes after The Age newspaper reported that QBE had been forced to retain extra staff in Australia because Victorian Government policies prevented it taking workers’ compensation data offshore.

QBE is an authorised agent for WorkSafe Victoria and WorkCover NSW.

The company is moving some IT positions to India and expanding processing and administration in the Philippines under a drive to deliver annual savings of at least $US250 million ($272 million).

“We remain on track to deliver against our plan, with no changes to our position following our market update on July 2,” the spokesman said.

Case managers will remain in Australia to maintain face-to-face interaction with employers and injured workers, and only they will have access to the claims files, QBE says.

WorkSafe will not say if it has held talks on the data issue with the insurer.

The state body “does not allow any of its agents to store any data relating to employers or injured workers outside of Australia”, a spokesman said.