NLIS 3
February 10, 2006
(Human Resources, Labour and Employment)
(Executive Council)
Spouses of deceased
workers to receive retroactive benefits
Fifty-eight women whose husbands were
fatally injured before the Charter of Rights and Freedoms� equality
rights provision (Section 15) was implemented in 1985 are going to
receive a total of approximately $3 million in retroactive workers�
compensation spousal benefits. Paul Shelley, Minister of Human
Resources, Labour and Employment and Minister Responsible for the
Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission and Joan Burke,
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, announced today that the
provincial government will amend legislation to pay retroactive benefits
to surviving spouses who re-married prior to 1985.
Minister Shelley said government�s decision ensures that the women who
re-married before 1985 and those who re-married after 1985 are treated
consistently and fairly. �These women and their families have suffered
physically, emotionally and economically. They have been seeking a
resolution for some time and we believe that paying retroactive benefits
is the right thing to do. I am very pleased that today we are able to
level the playing field for these women so they receive the same
retroactive pay awarded to their peers.�
Years ago, when the spouse of a fatally injured worker re-married,
spousal benefits were terminated. The �termination upon remarriage�
regulation was later changed and all surviving spouses had their
benefits reinstated. Those who re-married before 1985, however, were not
paid retroactive benefits from when the equality rights provision of the
Charter took effect in 1985 to the date of reinstatement in 1993. It is
for this period that they will now receive retroactive payments.
�This decision means that all women whose husbands were fatally injured
so many years ago will now be compensated equally,� said Minister Burke.
�Marital status cannot be used to prevent women from accessing benefits.
This case is an example of how government must be diligent to ensure
discriminatory regulations and policies are changed and special measures
are taken to advance the status of all women.�
Hilda Whelan, a spokesperson for the surviving spouses, said today the
decision is welcome news. �We always felt very strongly that we were
entitled to the same retroactive benefits as the women who re-married
after 1985. It never seemed fair that we were not awarded retroactive
benefits just because we happened to get married again before 1985.
After a long struggle to have our voices heard, it is very rewarding to
finally see a resolution.�
The cost to the workers compensation system is not expected to impact
the commission�s target to be fully funded by 2016, as required by
government.
Photo #1 and #2 - At the February 10, 2006
press conference in St. John's, announcing retroactive workers'
compensation spousal benefits are, seated left to right, Hilda Whelan,
spokespeson for surviving spouses, Hon. Paul Shelley, Minister of Human
Resources, Labour and Employment and Hon. Joan Burke, Minister
Responsible for the Status of Women.
Media contact:
Alex Marland, Human Resources, Labour and Employment, (709)
729-4062, 690-6047
Jacquelyn Howard, Women�s Policy Office, (709) 729-0048,
689-2624
2006 02 10
11:00 a.m. |