Changes to Injured Workers Compensation Rates

Kevin Aylward, Minister of Environment and Labour, stated today that the recent change to the policy respecting compensation for injured workers who receive minimum wage allowances should be welcome news to those affected.

Last fall, when government increased the minimum wage in the province, a number of injured workers received a reduction in benefits due to the method of calculation. Mr. Aylward stated: "This issue was brought to my attention before Christmas when the Injured Workers Association met with me to discuss the impacts of minimum wage increases on some workers and their families." Since then, the minister has held numerous meetings with officials of the Workers Compensation Commission to discuss the issue. As a result of those meetings, the policy and methodology for calculating benefits has been amended such that injured workers will not receive any loss of income due to increases in the minimum wage.

The minister commended the Injured Workers Association for bringing the issue to his attention and attributes the recent policy change to a healthy and productive dialogue between government and the Injured Workers Association.

Contact: Sean Kelly, Director of Communication, (709) 729-2575.