Average assessment rates among lowest in Canada

Rates remain stable at $1.60 per $100.00 of payroll  

November 27, 2008, Winnipeg – The average WCB assessment rate in Manitoba will remain stable at $1.60 effective January 1, 2009 and will maintain one of lowest average rates in Canada.

Manitoba employers will pay an average of $1.60 per $100.00 of their assessable payroll to the WCB for injury insurance coverage, including 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.

“Our rates are the third lowest in the country, and continue to be a competitive advantage for Manitoba employers,” says Doug Sexsmith, WCB President and CEO. “In 2007, we enjoyed the best investment returns of any Canadian WCB. Although recent investment returns have been weak in Canada and around the world, strong reserves and decreasing injury rates have contributed to stable premium rates.”

Sexsmith adds that employers can reduce assessment rates by improving health and safety at their workplaces and improving return to work programs.

“By making their workplaces safer, employers are not only helping to lower their workers’ compensation and business costs, but they’re also investing in the welfare of their workers,” says Sexsmith. “Our focus is on building a culture of health and safety, and by working together with our partners, we can continue to make safety a priority.”

Overall, about 42 per cent of employers will experience lower WCB premium rates in 2009.

The gradual increase in the maximum assessable earnings cap also continues, with the 2009 ceiling set at $83,000.

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

1-800-362-3340

Email:  wcb@wcb.mb.ca