XN000022-1980-10-20 — Page 8

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1980

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NEW WORKMEN COMPENSATION RATES FROM NEXT MONTH

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EMPLOYERS WERE REMINDED TODAY THAT THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE, WHICH PROVIDES IMPROVED STATUTORY BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES INJURED AND DEPENDANTS OF THOSE KILLED AT WORK, WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON NOVEMBER 1 THIS YEAR.

FROM THAT DATE, THE BENEFITS WILL APPLY TO ALL EMPLOYEES IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR EARNINGS. ACCORDINGLY, THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WILL BE RENAMED EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT REITERATED THAT A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IS A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN COMPENSATION LEVELS, WHICH VARY WITH THE AGE OF THE EMPLOYEE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

THE NEW COMPENSATION LEVELS ARE: UNDER 40 YEARS OLD,

84 MONTHS EARNINGS FOR DEATH AND 96 MONTHS EARNINGS FOR PERMANENT TOTAL INCAPACITY= 40 TO UNDER 56 YEARS OLD, 60 MONTHS AND 72 MONTHS- AND 56 YEARS OLD AND OVER, 36 MONTHS AND 48 MONTHS.

THE COMPENSATION PAYABLE IN ALL CASES, HOWEVER, IS SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM OF $168 000 FOR DEATH AND $192 000 FOR PERMANENT TOTAL INCAPACITY, AND A MINIMUM OF $49 000 AND $56 000 RESPECTIVELY.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE PRESENT LAW REQUIRES THE EMPLOYER TO PAY THE COST OF THE INITIAL SUPPLY AND FITTING OF A PROSTHESIS OR SURGICAL APPLIANCE, SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM OF $10 000.

THE AMENDED LAW REQUIRES THE EMPLOYER TO PAY, IN ADDITION TO THE INITIAL COST, THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRING AND RENEWAL OF THE APPLIANCE FOR A PERIOD OF TEN YEARS, SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM OF £30 000. AFTER THE TEN-YEAR PERIOD, ANY FURTHER COST OF REPAIR AND RENEWAL WILL BE PAID BY THE GOVERNMENT.

OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ARE AN INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM COMPENSATION FOR CONSTANT ATTENTION ARISING FROM PERMANENT TOTAL INCAPACITY FROM $32 000 TO $77 000 AND AN INCREASE IN BURIAL EXPENSES IN FATAL CASES FROM $800 TO $3 000.

IN VIEW OF THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION PAYABLE, EMPLOYERS ARE URGED TO INSURE AGAINST THEIR LIABILITIES UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

ALSO, FROM NOVEMBER 1, THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION UNIT WHICH HANDLES COMPENSATION CLAIMS ILL BE RETITLED THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION UNIT.

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