Bill would raise wage-loss benefits for injured workers to 90%

Bill 31 has advanced to second reading in the House of Assembly. If passed, it would increase income replacement for workers with a workplace injury or illness from 85% to 90% of net pre-injury earnings, subject to maximum earnings, starting December 1, 2026.

• The increase would apply to short- and long-term wage-loss benefits and benefits for eligible dependents when a worker dies from a workplace injury or illness.
• About 8,000 workers receive wage-loss benefits from WorkplaceNL each year.
• A worker earning $50,000 annually would receive almost $2,000 more per year. A worker earning at or above the maximum earnings limit would receive more than $2,900 more annually.
• WorkplaceNL’s Injury Fund would cover an estimated one-time $60.7 million increase in benefit liability.