Other Countries

Policy

The WSIB can enter into reciprocal agreements with other countries in order to receive certain services for Ontario workers who have moved to that country. The WSIB can also provide services to a worker from those countries who move to Ontario.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the benefits and services that may be authorized based on reciprocal agreements between the WSIB and other countries.

Background

International reciprocal agreements

The WSIB entered into reciprocal agreements with its counterparts in the countries of Italy, Greece and Portugal. These reciprocal agreements provide a way for the WSIB to:

  • review a worker's degree of permanent impairment/disability
  • pay for necessary health care at the worker's place of residence, and
  • register a worker's claim for exposure that may have resulted in an occupational disease.

These agreements apply when an Ontario resident moves out of the country or when a person from another jurisdiction comes to Ontario. In both cases, the worker obtains claim-related services without having to return home.

Each reciprocal agreement comes into effect upon the date of signature. For specific dates contact the WSIB.

Definitions

  • INAIL is an abbreviation for the "Instituto Nazionale per l'Assicurazione contro gli Infortuni sul Lavoro," the Italian equivalent of the WSIB.
  • CNPCRP is an abbreviation for the "Centro Nacional de Proteccao Contra os Riscos Profissionais," the Portuguese equivalent of the WSIB.
  • GRSSI is an abbreviation for the "Greek Republic Social Security Institute", and
  • "Signator" refers to INAIL, CNPCRP and GRSSI.

Guidelines

Extent of applicability

The provisions of the INAIL, CNPCRP and GRSSI agreements apply to the workers of Ontario, Italy, Portugal and Greece who are entitled to permanent impairment/disability payments from either INAIL, CNPCRP, GRSSI or the WSIB.

These agreements apply to the evaluation or re-evaluation of a work-related residual impairment/disability affecting a worker and the conditions related to the recognized impairment/disability.

Health care services

Health care services for work-related injuries and occupational diseases are provided in accordance with the provisions of:

  • Article IV of the Memorandum of Understanding, Italy
  • Article II of the Memorandum of Understanding, Portugal
  • Article III of the Memorandum of Understanding, Greece,

even if workers transfer residence to Ontario, or to the territory of the Italian, Portuguese or Hellenic republics.

If a worker is to receive necessary health care or assessment under these agreements, the WSIB requires an appropriate certificate from the worker. Requests for a certificate should be sent to the WSIB. The request will be referred to the appropriate operating area to authorize the certificate.

The Signator supplies the certificate(s) for Signator benefit recipients now residing in Ontario who require health care services and/or assessment.

Requests for assessments

Requests for assessments/reassessments can be received in a number of ways:

  • from the worker who may contact the WSIB directly
  • from the agency (INAIL, CNPCRP or GRSSI) at the request of the worker
  • through a third party authorized to represent the worker in Canada (e.g., a relative, physician, a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), and/or
  • through transcripts of expiring provisional benefits.

Occupational disease

The WSIB conducts inquiries to establish claim entitlement for workers residing in Italy, Portugal and Greece, whose last exposure was in Ontario. For workers residing in Ontario, whose last exposure was in Italy, Portugal or Greece, the WSIB, upon receipt of the Signator's certificate, conducts inquiries to assist the Signator's adjudication of the claim.

Appeals

Workers receiving benefits from a Signator country have no right of appeal to the WSIB. Workers in receipt of benefits from the WSIB who now reside in a Signator country may forward objections. Refer to wsib.ca for more information about appeals practices and procedures.

Out-of-province health care

A worker's entitlement to non-emergency health care outside of Ontario may be limited in some cases, refer to 17-01-04, Health Care Outside Ontario.

Leaving the province/country

Leaving Ontario may affect a worker's entitlement to benefits under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIA) or the Workers' Compensation Act, 1990 (WCA), refer to 15-06-07, Leaving the Province/Country.

Payment of benefits

INAIL/CNPCRP/GRSSI and the WSIB pay the benefits resulting from the work-related injury/disease directly to the worker, or the worker's dependants residing in the other country's territory.

Permanent WSIB benefit recipients outside Canada

Workers in receipt of permanent WSIB benefits who do not reside in Canada are entitled to receive payment in the same manner as those who reside in Canada, unless they request that other arrangements be made. Refer to 15-06-07, Leaving the Province/Country.

Application date

This policy applies to decisions made on or after December 5, 2024, about services provided or received under reciprocal agreements on or after the date each reciprocal agreement came into effect which is the date the agreement was signed.

Document history

This document replaces 17-03-05 dated October 12, 2004.

This document was previously published as:
17-03-05 dated May 24, 2002
17-03-05 dated June 15, 1999
8.7* dated January 1, 1998
01-04-16* dated October 1989
99-01-04* dated December 1989.

*Documents were replaced by 17-03-05 dated June 15, 1999.

References

Legislative authority

Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997
Section 159(8)

Workers' Compensation Act, Revised Statutes of Ontario 1990
Section 65(3)(i)

Approval

Approved by the President and CEO on December 3, 2024.