WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT

NZ Truth, Issue 890, 16 December 1922, Page 4

WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT

A Seriea of Amendment*

The Department of Labor has issued the foUowing circular for general information: — I am directed by the Minister of Labor (the Hon. v G. J* Anderson) to call your attention to the Workers' Compensation Act, I"**^» passed last session, ■■• which takes the place of the Workers' Compensation Act. 1908, and its Amendments. This measure is chiefly a consolidation, but attention is called to the following amendments: — ■- , 1. The proportion of a workers average weekly earnings that is pay-\ able m the case ;pf total or partial incapacity has been increased from 55 per cent, m the old Act to 58 per cent (sections 5 and 6). ■ '' : ' ■■: * 2. The amount of damages that may be recovered by a worker from an employer m an action m respect of the negligence of a fellow servant has been increased from £750 m the old i Act to £iOOO (section 67). 3. In the old Act a domestic servant m private employ was not covered by the Act unless the period of service was not less . than seven days. This has now been altered to 3 days (First Schedule). . . ' 7 4. The second schedule, bas been altered by providing a compensation of 10 per cent, of -the full compensation that would be payable for total incapacity for tho total loss of a big toe (instead of 6 pcr 1 cent, as formerly).,

6. m the old: Act when a. judgment for compensation had been obtained by a worker from the; Court it was not possible for him to proceed for damages, even although the amount of the judgment had not actually been paid, and similarly where judgment had been reoovered for damages lt was not possible to i proceed for compensation. This provision has now been altered so. that judgment for damages or compensation- (as the cade may be) is no bar to further action if after all reasonable steps have been taken to obtain satisfaction, the amount of the judgment has not been paid;

6. Section 14 (2) now provides that when a worker is a member of a friendly society or similar, organisation, no deduction shall be made on that account from the ' compensation or medical, surgical, or funeral expenses' to which he may be entitled under the Act,