FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978
WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL
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WORKERS WHO SUFFER CERTAIN LUNG DISEASES CONTRACTED IN THE COURSE OF THE IR EMPLOYMENT WILL IN FUTURE BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION IF A PROPOSED BILL TO AMEND THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORD INANCE BECOMES LAW.
THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978, WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY, PROPOSES TO PROVIDE WORKERS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS WITH COMPENSATION IN CASE OF PERMANENT TOTAL OR PARTIAL INCAPACITY OR DEATH RESULTING FROM PNEUMOCONIOS IS WHILE ENGAGED IN ANY SPECIFIED TRADE, INDUSTRY OR PROCESS. IT ALSO PROPOSES TO ESTABLISH A PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND AND TO REQUIRE COMPULSORY INSURANCE.
THE MAIN PROVISIONS OF THE BILL INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF PNEUMOCONICS IS TO THE SECOND SCHEDULE (OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES) TO THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.
IF THE BILL IS ENACTED, WORKMEN ENGAGED IN SPECIFIED TRADES, INDUSTRIES OR PROCESSES ON AN APPOINTED DATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO AN INITIAL MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND X-RAY. THEY WILL ALSO
ALL EE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO RE-EXAMINATION AT REGULAR INTERVALS. MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS WILL BE AT THE EMPLOYERS' EXPENSE.
EMPLOYERS IN SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES WILL BE REQUIRED TO TAKE OUT INSURANCE FOR THEIR LIABILITY TO PAY COMPENSATION FOR PERMANENT INCAPACITY OR DEATH OF WORKMEN SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCONIOS IS.
THE INSURANCE PREMIUM COLLECTED EY INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL BE PAID INTO A CENTRAL FUND TO BE ADMINISTERED BY A PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND EOARD APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. ALL WORKMEN DIAGNOSED TO BE SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCONIOSIS AFTER THE FUND IS SET UP WILL BE PAID COMPENSATION AND DAMAGES FROM THE FUND THROUGH THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
THOSE WORKERS WHO ARE ALREADY KNOWN TO HAVE PNEUMOCONIOSIS WILL RECEIVE EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS FROM GOVERNMENT. THESE PAYMENTS WILL BE CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF AN UP-DATED ASSESSMENT OF THE DISABILITY SUSTAINED.
GOVERNMENT WILL PAY, ON BEHALF OF EMPLOYERS, COMPENSATION AND DAMAGES TO WORKMEN DIAGNOSED AS PNEUMOCONIOTIC AT THE INITIAL EXAMINATION AND X-RAY. THIS MONEY WILL SUBSEQUENTLY BE RECOVERED WITH INTEREST BY THE GOVERNMENT FROM THE FUND BY WAY OF A LEVY IMPOSED ON EMPLOYERS IN SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES.
A SET OF REGULATIONS WILL BE MADE AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL TO SPECIFY PNEUMOCONIOSIS-PRONE TRADES, INDUSTRIES OR PROCESSES. AND TO PRESCRIBE DETAILS OF INITIAL AND PERIODIC MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR WORKMEN.
/A SECOND