The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Saskatchewan has passed The Workers' Compensation Act, 2012, amending existing workers' compensation legislation in a bid to improve client service, fairness, efficiency and accountability. The changes: Êincrease the maximum wage rate to $59,000 for workers injured after the legislation takes effect; Êindex the maximum wage rate for current and future claimants to ensure benefits are consistent with inflation; Êintroduce administrative penalties up to $10,000 for employers who breach their obligations under the Act; enable 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 ensure employers assist with an employee's Return to Work program. '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.' In 2010, the province appointed an independent committee to perform a statutory review of the workers' compensation system. The Committee of Review submitted its report in late 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. _ Compiled from a Government of Saskatchewan news release
