Knowledge Base - Clearances
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The Online Clearance Request System is a secure Internet application that will allow you to search potential sub-contractors and request authorized clearance status documents. If you become a registered user, you can also use this tool to compile and store lists of the sub-contractors you use most often and be updated on their clearance status via-email.
For calculation examples, labour percentage and rates, refer to the 2011 Assessment Rates. For more information, refer to the Coverage for Contract Labour fact sheet.
Contact the WCB Technical Support Team at 954-4803 in Winnipeg or toll free at 1-866-751-9245.
WCB's Online Clearance System is available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The WCB Technical Support Team is available to assist you from Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM (except on statutory holidays). System and support availability is subject to change.
No, letters of clearance are not required for firms that "supply material only".
No. As an employer, you are not allowed to deduct earnings from your deemed worker to offset your financial obligation to the WCB. For more information, refer to the Coverage for Contract Labour fact sheet.
No, you are only responsible to report the labour part of the contract on your Annual Payroll Form or your Quarterly Remittance Form.
If you are unable to locate the account number of the contractor you are searching for, it may be because they are not registered with the WCB or are not required to be registered with the WCB. In this case, you should verify whether or not the contractor is required to register with the WCB and if so, that they are in good standing - otherwise they could be deemed a worker of your business. (For more information call Employer Services at 1-204-954-4505 or toll free in Canada at 1-800-362-3340.)
Firms with the status of deemed/default do not have the appropriate coverage to work for general contractors and additionally, have not fully complied with the terms of the Workers Compensation Act. Once they have complied, they will return to the status of deemed worker.
Firms registered with the WCB who do not carry appropriate coverage to work for a general contractor will be considered deemed workers of the contractor hiring them. When you check the status of the firm through any of the Clearance Request Systems, the system will identify these types of firms for you.
General Contractors who hire deemed workers should ensure that their current year's payroll estimate is updated to reflect the labour portion of the contract that they enter into with these firms.
General contractors or any firm hiring for the purposes of construction, transportation, logging, janitorial, oil and gas wells, tow trucks, etc. should get clearance information on their subcontractors before work commences and before any payment is made.
A clearance is basically a letter that tells you whether or not a business, contractor or subcontractor has complied with the requirements of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba. This is important because if someone you've hired isn't in good standing with the WCB, you might be liable for their assessment costs - or have your own assessment rates go up because they are in an accident.
Before you register, you may want to check with your System Administrator to make sure your system is compatible with the Interactive Online Clearance System. Your system needs to include:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or a later version (128-bit encryption version)
- JavaScript enabled on your web browser
- Cookies enabled on your web browser*
- A valid Internet account
- Minimum 800 x 600 display resolution (though 1024 x 768 display resolution is recommended).
To update user contact information, your organization's Security Administrator will need to advise the WCB Technical Support Team at 954-4803 in Winnipeg or toll free at 1-866-751-9245.
For more information, please see pages 4 and 5 of the Getting Started Guide.
When you phone the WCB Technical Support Team to register, you will need to provide the following information:
The name(s) and phone number(s) for the individual(s) you would like to register
A challenge-response phrase (for more on this, please refer to Information Security)
If you are a registered employer with the WCB you will also need your WCB Account Number, Industry Code and corresponding rate, a valid e-mail address and the last reported annual payroll, or the last reported quarterly payroll.
To register, phone the WCB Technical Support Team at 954-4803 in Winnipeg or toll free at 1-866-751-9245. A WCB Technical Support Team member will help you register all of the users for your organization.
Once you are registered, a WCB Technical Support Team member will phone you back with individual User IDs and passwords for each of the users.
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The WCB administers both compulsory and optional no-fault insurance for workplace injuries to workers and employers in the province. Its primary function is to provide assistance to workplaces and workers who are injured on the job through both compensation and return to work services. The WCB also provides prevention services such as training and consulting workplaces on safety and health.
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