Organized labour likes what the provincial government is doing with rates of compensation for injured workers – but it would like to see more improvements.

Injured workers had been receiving about 85 per cent of insurable earnings while off the job, but an increase working its way through the legislature will push that to about 90 per cent, something for which the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour has been pushing for some time.

President Jessica McCormick calls it a big win for injured workers as the Injury Fund currently sits at almost 140 per cent funded – a healthy surplus and well above the target range of 100 to 115 per cent.

However, the federation would also like to see the removal of the cap on insurable earnings of $80,000. McCormick says the limit leaves higher-paid workers facing the same maximum benefit as someone earning far less, despite suffering a much larger income loss. That $80,000 cap is the second lowest in the country.