Released on June 6, 2002
Legislation introduced today will continue the job of making the workers'compensation system in Saskatchewan fairer and more accountable. Labour
Minister Deb Higgins said the amendments result from work done by the
Workers' Compensation Act Committee of Review in the fall of 2001.
"The amendments to The Workers' Compensation Act, in conjunction with
committee recommendations that have already been implemented through
changes to existing Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) policies and
procedures, balance the needs of injured workers with the concerns of
employers," Higgins said.
The major provisions of the act include:
increasing the maximum wage rate from $48,000 to $51,900 on January
1st, 2003, $53,000 on January 1st, 2004, and $55,000 on January
1st, 2005;
increasing the burial expenses from $5,000 plus Consumer Price
Index (CPI) to $10,000 plus CPI;
increasing the permanent functional impairment award from a minimum
of $1,100 to $2,200 and from a maximum of $22,600 to $45,200;
decreasing the independence allowance calculation from 10 per cent
to 5 per cent of the permanent functional impairment award;
provide death benefits when workers die at work, unless the cause
of death is not work related; and
extending survivor benefits to a common law spouse with whom the
worker has been living with for one year rather than two years.
"Comprehensive consultations on the recommendations have allowed our
stakeholders an opportunity to assess their potential impacts and provide
us with informed feedback," Higgins said.
"The province and the WCB are committed to working with the employers and
employees of Saskatchewan to provide the most accountable and responsive
workers' compensation system possible," Higgins said.
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For more information, contact:
Greg Leake Janice Siekawitch
Saskatchewan Labour Workers' Compensation Board
Regina Regina
Phone: (306) 787-4156 Phone: (306) 787-4386