Average Assessment Rates Drop in Manitoba

$1.60 per $100.00 of Payroll a Competitive Manitoba Advantage

Winnipeg, MB - The average assessment rate that Manitoba employers pay for their workers’ compensation coverage will drop nearly 5 percent from $1.68 to $1.60 effective January 1, 2008.

On average, Manitoba employers will pay $1.60 per $100.00 of their assessable payroll to the WCB for injury insurance coverage, which includes wage loss payments, medical benefits and rehabilitation services. That rate may be higher or lower, depending on the employer’s injury experience and the safety and health risk of their industry.

“Thanks to a number of factors like healthy investment returns and safer workplaces, we’re able to continue to provide among the lowest rates in the country,” says Doug Sexsmith, WCB President and CEO. “A strong financial position and good results allow us to offer a competitive advantage to Manitoba employers.”

Overall, about 85 percent of employers will experience lower WCB premium rates in 2008. About a third of firms will receive a decrease in their assessment rate of 10 percent or more.

The average assessment rate is falling at the same time injured workers are receiving improved benefits as a result of recent amendments to the Workers Compensation Act. 

The gradual increase of the maximum assessable earnings cap for the purpose of employer premiums also continues, with the 2008 ceiling set at $77,000.

While the workplace injury rate in Manitoba has fallen 22 percent from 2000 to 2006, there are additional measures that employers can take to make their workplaces safer and in turn, lower their workers’ compensation and business costs.

“Creating safer workplaces and preventing injuries is critical to keeping the assessment rates low and keeping workers safe, healthy and on the job,” Sexsmith says. “When employers formalize health and safety procedures and implement effective disability management and return to work programs, they pay lower premiums. It’s that simple.”

The Manitoba WCB is a mutual injury and disability insurance agency governed by a Board of Directors representative of employers, workers and the public interest and funded by employer premiums. The WCB insures approximately 70 percent of the workers in Manitoba, employed by just over 26,000 registered employers.

For more information contact:

Warren Preece

Director of Communications

Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba

(204)-954-4113