Compensation For Accidents at Work - A New Government Bill 2009

A new parliamentary bill that is highly significant toaccidents that could be attributed to the
victims wishing to make an accident at worknegligence of an employer, in cases where the
compensation claim has been drafted by an allemployer did not at the time have cover in place
party parliamentary group on occupational safetyand the company no longer exists or is not
and health. The bill is entitled "Employers' Liabilitysufficiently solvent to pay compensation, have no
Insurance the need for change"recourse to obtain a compensation claim.
The bill points out that around five percent ofAs a result, the bill calls for setting up a new
cars on the roads today are uninsured, despiteinsurance bureau that will be run in a similar
the fact that there are punitive fines and othermanner to the MIB. This new bureau, to be called
punishments for those caught driving withoutthe "Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance
insurance. A Motorists Insurance Bureau (MIB)Bureau" will provide a fall back compensation claim
was set up over sixty years ago that willfor victims trapped in a non-insured situation as
compensate victims of uninsured drivers. The MIBdescribed above.
is funded by motor insurance companies via aThe bill also calls for a new national database that
special tax on all policies.will allow all employees to trace the insurance
It then goes on to examine the case ofcompany responsible for their previous employers'
Employers' Liability Insurance. This is also aliability cover. This would also parallel the situation
compulsory cover that all employers are requiredof motor insurance where central records of
to have. Although by far the majority ofdrivers and their chosen providers are maintained.
companies have this insurance currently, prior to itThe costs of setting up and maintaining this
being made compulsory in 1972 only ninetydatabase would also be charged to the insurance
percent of employers had it. Victims of industrialcompanies.