On March 26, 2020, as part of measures to provide financial relief to employers coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government announced premium reporting and payment to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board

(“WSIB”) for collective coverage under the Workplace Safety Insurance Act can be deferred for six months, until August 31, 2020.

All WSIB-covered employers are automatically eligible for this relief. Interest on outstanding premium payments will not accrue during the six-month deferral period, the WSIB will not charge penalties, and there will be no negative consequences to businesses that take advantage of the deferral. Workers at eligible workplaces will continue to be fully covered during the deferral period.

The government has pledged $1.9 billion to provide for this six-month deferral of WSIB premiums, which is part of a $17 billion package under Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19. The government expects that the deferred premiums will be an average $1,760 for approximately 275,000 Ontario businesses.

This blog is provided as an information service and summary of workplace legal issues.  This information is not intended as legal advice.