INJURED WORKERS SHOULDN'T PAY FOR WORLD'S PROBLEMS

4 April 2008

SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles says it's entirely unfair to expect injured workers to pay for the impact of world financial markets on the WorkCover scheme.

"Workers don't ask to be injured, and they deserve fair support when they are.  Yet the government is now arguing that WorkCover's worsening financial situation as a result of world money market woes further justifies its controversial legislation which strips workers of their rights."

"Why should vulnerable hurt workers have to pay for a problem with the world markets?  Why should they have to pay for mismanagement of the WorkCover scheme?  Why should they have to pay for the failure of employers to do the right thing and get them back to work"?

"Because that's what's really happening here - the entitlements of honest workers are being sacrificed on a spurious argument about SA having the worst return to work rate... when the reality is employers are shirking their responsibilities, rorting has gone unaddressed and the world credit squeeze has upped the ante."

"We want to seek WorkCover fixed as much as anyone - probably more so, because a healthy WorkCover scheme means proper support for injured workers, better productivity and a rosy outlook for the state.  Ripping out support for injured workers does the opposite.  It reduces productivity by retarding rehabilitation and return to work and adds to financial pressure on families."

"The government must stop this smoke and mirrors trick.  Penalising workers for the past inadequacies of government and business will only exacerbate problems.  WorkCover needs fixing - but it needs fixing in a fair way, that preserves the scheme's ultimate aim of providing for injured workers, instead of expecting them to pay for the inefficiencies and bad judgement of others", Ms Giles says.