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读了贵报记者南茜的报道《崔先生的工伤遭遇》,对崔先生的遭遇感到非常同情。同时,我觉得如果崔先生能够及时了解加拿大的有关法规,按照法律规定维护自己的权益,就会减少很多不必要的麻烦。
安大略省的工伤补偿,主要是根据《劳动安全保险法》(Workplace Safety and Insurance Act,以下简称《安保法》)由“劳动安全保险局”(WSIB)负责操作管理。下面,我简单介绍一下与此次事故相关的几条规定。
《安保法》第22(5)条规定,受伤员工在申请工伤补偿时,必须要声明允许其医生向其雇主传递与工伤有关的身体状况信息。37(3)条规定医生有责任提供这些信息。
在报道中,崔先生抱怨工厂打电话到诊所了解他的病情,影响给其他病人看病。而事实上,工厂的做法是受法律保护的,是合理的。崔先生拒绝填写厂方要求的《了解病情许可表》(Master Release Form),则很可能违反了上述规定。
《安保法》第五部分“重返工作岗位”(Return to Work),要求工厂和工人要相互配合,使员工能尽快安全的重返工作岗位,恢复受伤前的工资。工厂要根据员工的身体状况,为受伤员工安排“调整后的工作”(Modified Work)。
我不知道如何恰当翻译Modified Work这个词,但不能按照这篇报道的说法称为“另类工作”。汉语中,“另类”含有贬义,而Modified Work则只是一种工作安排,绝不是什么另类。
Modified Work指的是公司为适应受伤员工的身体状况、对普通工作的内容或强度进行调整后的工作。包括降低劳动强度或缩短劳动时间等等。这是使员工尽快重返工作岗位、恢复受伤前工资收入的措施之一。《安保法》规定,公司必须为受伤员工安排重返工作岗位的计划,否则可能罚款。而工人则必须配合有关安排,否则WSIB可能会停止或推后有关补偿的发放。至于工人的身体状况是不是允许他从事公司提供的“调整后的工作”,则需要参考医生的意见,由WSIB最终确定。
尽管崔先生的医生建议他在家修养,但在工厂为他提供调整后的工作后,如果他的医生未提出反对意见,那么他就应该配合工厂,接受这项工作安排。可惜,这篇报道中没有提医生是否表示了反对意见。
报道中说公司与WSIB通过电话和传真保持联系,并称之为“不断向WSIB施加压力”。这种说法没有道理。因为这种联系是《安保法》规定必须进行的。在这个信息交流过程中,提出自己关于补偿的意见,完全合理合法,根本谈不到气急败坏。受伤员工也应该与WSIB保持联系,提交自己的看法和证据。
吃一堑,长一智。希望我们大家都能够吸取教训,在法律允许的范围内,为自己争得更大的利益。
下面摘录几条《劳安法》的条文,以供参考。
22(5) When filing a claim, a worker must consent to the disclosure to his or her employer of information provided by a health professional under subsection 37 (3) concerning the worker's functional abilities. The disclosure is for the sole purpose of facilitating the worker's return to work.
36. (1) Upon the request of his or her employer, a worker who claims or is receiving benefits under the insurance plan shall submit to a health examination by a health professional selected and paid for by the employer.
(2) Despite subsection (1), the worker may object to undergoing the examination or to the nature and extent of the examination requested by the employer. The worker shall notify the employer of his or her objection.
(3) Within 14 days after receiving the worker's objection, the employer may request that the Board direct the worker to submit to the examination and, if necessary, that the Board determine the nature and extent of the examination.
(4) A decision of the Board under this section is final and is not appealable to the Appeals Tribunal.
(5) If the worker does not comply with a direction of the Board made under subsection (3), the Board may reduce or suspend payments to the worker under the insurance plan while the non-compliance continues. 1997, c. 16, Sched. A, s. 36.
37(3) When requested to do so by an injured worker or the employer, a health professional treating the worker shall give the Board, the worker and the employer such information as may be prescribed concerning the worker's functional abilities. The required information must be provided on the prescribed form.
43(7) The Board may reduce or suspend payments to the worker during any period when the worker is not co-operating,
(a) in health care measures;
(b) in his or her early and safe return to work; or
(c) in all aspects of a labour market re-entry assessment or plan provided to the worker. 1997, c. 16, Sched. A, s. 43 (7).更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net