A forum of 46 employers in B.C. have walked away from the table in reviewing the compensation system for injured workers with the provincial government.

Speaking on NL Newsday, the forum’s spokesperson Dave Earle says the Ministry of Labour is trying to bring WorkSafeBC regulations back to the way they were a couple decades ago.

“What we’re saying is, when the Minister says this is a focused review on these areas, and on these issues, and he gives that information to us and we act accordingly based on that, and then after the fact we’re presented with a laundry list of items that go far outside that focus area, well no, we’re not willing to participate in this type of review at this time.”

Earle says what the Ministry is proposing would allow settlement decisions made decades ago to be re-opened and force employers to make new payouts.

And the Minister of Labor meanwhile indicates the employers forum has misinterpreted what the government is looking to change.

Harry Bains says the proposed changes wouldn’t mean employers would be on the hook to payout workers for previously-settled claims.

He says the government only wants to hear from workers who have dealt with WorkSafeBC in the past.

“I of course am disappointed that this group of employers have decided to disengage themselves in our final stages of consultation processes. But I’m committed, fully committed, to work with the employers, the workers, their representatives, to ensure that this system is independent, impartial, balanced.”

Bains says WorkSafeBC’s regulations haven’t been reviewed since 2002 and says the system needs to be improved.