The Government have given notice of its intent to repeal legislation, introduced 9 years ago, which requires employers' liability compulsory insurance policies to be retained for 40 years. The impact on workers ability to claim compensation is appalling. If the records are not kept, when a company goes into liquidation there is no way of accessing insurance records.
The 40-year rule was introduced because hundreds of asbestos victims each year do not get compensation because they cannot trace the insurers of employers who have ceased trading.
It is imperative that government establishes a central electronic database for the compulsory recording of all employers' liability insurance policies before the repeal of regulation 4(4) of the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations 1998.
As the EDM detailed below says, this has a grave impact on those suffering from Asbestos exposure and who develop an asbestos related disease.
As a matter of urgency MPs are being asked to sign a new Early Day Motion calling on the government to establish a central register for compulsory registering of Employers' Liability insurance. At the time of writing, only some 26 MPs had signed the EDM. Hopefully Unionsafety readers will increase that number dramatically!
EDM 2010
EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY COMPULSORY INSURANCE
09.07.2008
That this House expresses its profound disappointment at the Government's decision to repeal the regulation requiring employers' liability compulsory insurance policies to be retained for 40 years; notes that there is no reliable mechanism for ensuring the preservation of insurance policies if a company ceases trading; is deeply concerned at the impact that this will have on workers suffering from industrial diseases such as mesothelioma who will be unable to obtain legally awarded damages in the future because they will not be able to trace their employers' liability insurance policies; and calls on the Government to establish a central electronic database for the compulsory recording of all employers' liability insurance policies before the repeal of regulation 4(4) of the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations 1998.
Details of the EDM and the petition your MP MUST sign can be found here
Find and contact your MP to sign the EDM here
Source: Asbestos Forum
