TUC hits back after new compo attacks

The TUC has criticised a new push by insurers and the government to limit access to compensation. Axa chief Paul Evans told the Daily Telegraph on 4 August that 'compensation culture is becoming a real issue for society', adding: 'We are seeing more claims for stress coming through, and deafness or loss of hearing through noise in the workplace, more claims on employer liability. Again like whiplash these are things that at the time are nearly impossible to prove.' In reality, noise-induced deafness is extremely easy to prove, using a simple diagnostic audiometric test. And a TUC-backed Hazards report last week revealed fewer than 1 in every 750 workers suffering from health problems related to stress at work get a payout. On 31 July, the government introduced a system to channel employers' liability claims worth less than £25,000 through a 'claims portal', a move it says is intended to 'reduce the amount defendants, or their insurers, have to pay in legal fees.' It does this by reducing payments to claimants' lawyers, meaning it will be difficult to get law firms to take on all but the most straightforward claims. Justice minister Helen Grant said: 'We are turning the tide on the compensation culture which has pushed up the cost of insurance for drivers, schools and business - and taking another important step to reducing the cost of living for ordinary people.' Commenting on the clampdown on workplace claims, TUC's Hugh Robertson said: 'There is not one single shred of evidence that there is any kind of compensation culture. The number of claims has fallen by 60 per cent in the past decade and only a small percentage of injured and ill workers even make a claim.' He added: 'The government, at the behest of the insurance industry, is trying to stop workers getting justice by making it even harder to claim with changes to the way costs are worked out and removing employers' liability when they break the law. While workers face reduced protection in the workplace and cuts to their compensation when they do get injured (if they are ever able to claim), the government will continue their 'blame the victim' blitz egged on by their cheerleaders in the insurance industry.'

• Ministry of Justice news release. Thompsons Solicitors news release. Daily Telegraph.
• Robbed!, Hazards magazine.