Legislation: Compensation disputes moving to Labour Court?

Disputes over compensation for occupational injuries and diseases will soon be heard in the Labour Court instead of the High Court, according to a recent Department of Labour media statement – a move apparently supported by organised business, reports Pam Saxby for Legalbrief Policy Watch. This is noting an earlier statement confirming that the draft Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Disease Amendment Bill released in October for comment has already been considered in the National Economic Development and Labour Council.

The draft Bill also seeks to: extend the reach of the principal statute to include domestic workers; provide a framework for the rehabilitation of affected employees and their workplace reintegration; and ‘improve some benefits’. Nationwide public hearings begun last month will continue until mid-December. Meanwhile, the department has urged stakeholders to ‘influence the … amendments before they become law’ by making written submissions.

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