FREDERICTON (GNB) - The provincial government has introduced changes designed to improve compensation claim processing times for injured workers including a series of amendments to the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission Act.
The improvements will establish maximum wait periods, convert the existing compensation appeals tribunal to an independent body and create an internal fair dispute resolution process within WorksafeNB.
"Whether it's providing people with skills training or ensuring their rights as workers are protected, our government is focused on people, skills and jobs," said Post-Secondary Education Training and Labour Minister Jody Carr. "These improvements will reduce potential financial hardship of workers and employers by providing speedier decisions around claims and benefits."
These changes will:
● create an external workers' compensation appeals tribunal which will be separate and independent in its operations from WorkSafeNB;
● establish a chairperson of the appeals tribunal who will report directly to the Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, similar to the structure of the Human Rights Commission and the Labour and Employment Board;
● ensure that decisions be issued by the appeals tribunal within 90 days and implemented by WorkSafeNB within 30 days from the final hearing; and
● establish an internal fair dispute resolution process within WorkSafeNB.
"New Brunswick is one of only two jurisdictions in Canada without an independent and external appeals tribunal," said Carr. "These improvements respond to the first stage of a three stage collaborative and consultative review of WorkSafeNB. We are strengthening and modernizing the workers' compensation system in the province that will strengthen and protect our workforce."
The legislation surrounding workers' compensation has not undergone a thorough review in more than 20 years. The objective of this three-year review is to ensure the system appropriately addresses the needs and realities of current and future workplaces and provides balanced consideration between adequate compensation for injured workers and employers' financial interest.
In 2013, the provincial government consulted with individual New Brunswickers, employers, injured workers and other stakeholders on how to modernize the legislation. As a result, two independent consultant's reports were prepared and provided recommendations on how to improve workers' compensation legislation as it relates to the first stage of the review.
LINKS:
● Proposals for the Structure, Governance and Mandate of the Appeals Tribunal under the New Brunswick Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission Act - An Independent Consultant's Report
● Comprehensive review of New Brunswick Workers' Compensation Legislation - Consultant's Report