The dismissal of injured workers and workers' compensation arrangements inAustralia

In Australia, as in Canada and to a lesser extent the United States, the vo cational rehabilitation of injured workers is an integral part of workers' compensation arrangements. An essential feature of the return-to-work proce ss is the provision of suitable employment by employers for workers able to resume work following a work-related injury. This article highlights the i mportance of employment security measures within workers' compensation legi slation for injured workers and of scheme management. The author examines t he major approaches adopted by the various Australian jurisdictions, critic ally reviews the issue of compliance with employment security legislation, and suggests a number of proposals for reform. Given the number of similari ties between Australian and North American workers' compensation schemes, p olicy lessons drawn from the Australian experiences may be relevant to the labor movement and legislators in Canada and the United States.