Council of Construction Associations (COCA) Responds To Workers’ Compensation Act

The provincial government has just introduced a change to the Workers’ Compensation Act effective January 1, 2012 to end the over-compensation of workers who are in an apprenticeship program. The Council of Construction Associations (COCA) has actively lobbied for this change over a number of years.

The current system over-compensates apprentices on workers’ compensation. The issue arises when any apprentice in any industry (not just in construction) is injured at work. After 10 weeks, the apprentice has his or her wage rate increased to the much higher journeyman level.

It takes up to five years to progress from apprentice to journeyman. For example, some apprentices make $14.94 per hour and then over four or five years – if they qualify through their performance – move to $33.21 per hour. WorkSafeBC currently moves the injured apprentice to this journeyman rate of $33.21 per hour after only 10 weeks. With the passing of this new amendment to the Act, workers in the apprentice program will be compensated in the same manner as other workers in BC.