Released on May 8, 2013
The Government of Saskatchewan has passed The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2012, which amends existing workers’ compensation legislation to improve client service, fairness, efficiency and accountability.
“We have taken the advice of workers and employers and improved the workers’ compensation system,” Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan said. “We have increased the maximum wage rate for new claimants, increased benefits for current claimants and introduced measures that support the transition back to work.”
The Act has been modernized to better meet the needs of workers and employers. In particular, it:
- increases the maximum wage rate to $59,000 for workers injured after the legislation takes effect;
- indexes the maximum wage rate for current and future claimants to ensure benefits are consistent with inflation;
- introduces administrative penalties up to $10,000 for employers who breach their obligations under the Act;
- enables workers with less than $25,000 in their annuity account to choose how they access those funds, either through a lump sum payment or an annuity; and
- ensures employers assist with an employee’s Return to Work program.
In 2010, the government appointed an independent committee to perform a statutory review of the workers’ compensation system. The Committee of Review submitted its report in December 2011 and public consultations were held across the province in 2012.
The legislative amendments are expected to come into effect January 1, 2014.
For information about The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2012, visit www.lrws.gov.sk.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Shannon McMillan
Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0253
Email: shannon.mcmillan@gov.sk.ca