FSB welcomes report on Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance

The Federation of Small Businesses, welcoming a number of the proposals announced in the Government’s review of Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI), have warned that there is still some way top go on this issue.

The small business lobby organisation is concerned that the proposed review contains little to address the immediate problem of crippling insurance premiums for small businesses in Northern Ireland.

FSB Policy Chair in NI, Wilfred Mitchell, said: “The FSB which has led on the campaign to introduce measures to alleviate the situation on this issue for small firms is particularly pleased that the Government is postponing for a year, new rules that allow the NHS to claim back the cost from employers of treating injured staff.

“The FSB was also reassured by the proposal to exempt more than 300,000 small limited liability companies from rules forcing them to buy ELCI.

“Pressure from the FSB is beginning to reap results on this worrying issue, but there is still a long way to go. The FSB will continue to insist that there has been a general market failure in this area, given that a number of businesses with no history whatsoever of a claim against them were and are still being faced with huge increases for this compulsory insurance.

“The way forward however is with everyone pulling together on this issue, and we are pleased that the review talks about working closely with the FSB in the development of the Government’s proposals.”

However, Mr Mitchell said that the report did little to address the "immediate problem of crippling Insurance Premiums for Northern Ireland Small Businesses” and called on the ETI Minister to outline how the report will be implemented in Northern Ireland.

He added: “The FSB in Northern Ireland will be publishing its second survey on the insurance crisis, early in the new year”.

The Department for Work and Pensions published the Government’s Second Stage Report, 'Review of Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance', on 4 December 2003.

(SP)