The proposed changes ensure the current Workers Compensation system remains responsive to the needs of workers and employers.
Margaret MacDiarmid, Minister of Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government says “our government recognizes that we need to treat job-related mental stress the same way we treat physical illness and injuries. We know mental stress has a significant impact on workers, their families and their workplace.”
The wider compensation coverage includes mental stress conditions arising in the workplace, adjusting compensation for injured apprentices to a level that is believed to fairly represents their loss of earnings. It also grants survivor benefits to common law couples without children after two years of living together.
In the event of a work-related disease or injury, WorkSafeBC works with those affected to provide return-to-work compensation, rehabilitation and a variety of other beneficial services.
