Workforce: Workers Compensation

Costs: Average Wages, All Industries Wages by Occupation Wages by Manufacturing Minimum Wages by Province Statutory Benefits Workers Compensation Health & Social Services

About 70% of Manitoba workers are covered by the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba. Employers in industries listed in the Workers Compensation Act are required to register with the WCB and must pay assessment premiums to cover their workforce. Employers not listed in the Act may purchase voluntary coverage from the WCB. The WCB is totally funded by employer premiums and it is an offense to deduct workers compensation costs from employees.

Industry and firm accident experience play a large part in setting assessment premium rates. Premium rates are assessed per $100 of assessable payroll. The average premium rate charged to Manitoba employers for WCB coverage for 2009 is $1.60 per $100 of assessable payroll, and rates can range from $0.14 per $100 of assessable payroll to $35.57 per $100 of assessable payroll (2009 rates).  Manitoba’s is among the lowest average rates in Canada.

Rate Ranges by Industry Category*
(Per $100 of Payroll)

The average premium rate charged to Manitoba employers for WCB coverage for 2009 is $1.60 per $100 of assessable payroll.  Employers may pay a lower or higher rate depending on the safety and health risk of their business and the cost of prior claims.

Premium rates are grouped by industry code, and sub-grouped into categories based on their five year cost experience. The average rate for each category is based upon a fixed percentage of the provincial average rate.  For example, the 15% category has an average rate of $0.24 (15% of $1.60 = $0.24).

The following table shows a sampling of rates and their associated rate categories, grouped by industry sector:

*  The figures above are provided as guidelines only. Companies should contact the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba to obtain the specific rate for their industry.

Source: Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba