(1) This section
applies if payments of income compensation are being made otherwise than by
direction of a conciliator.
(2) A conciliator may
direct that payments of income compensation be suspended or reduced if the
conciliator considers that it would be reasonable to expect that the
resolution or determination of a dispute would result in the payments being
suspended, reduced or discontinued.
(3) A conciliator must
not direct the suspension or reduction of income compensation
payments —
(a) for
a period that exceeds 12 weeks; or
(b) if
2 or more directions are given — for periods the aggregate of
which exceeds 12 weeks.
(4) The suspension or
reduction of income compensation payments by direction under this section (the
change ) operates as follows unless the conciliator directs
otherwise —
(a) the
change applies only to compensation for a period after the change takes
effect, and compensation for a period before the change takes effect remains
payable as if the change had not occurred;
(b) in
the case of suspension — the change has the effect provided for by
paragraph (a) only during the period of the suspension.
(5) A conciliator may,
by further direction, amend, suspend or revoke a direction given under this
section.
(6) When a direction
suspending income compensation payments is revoked —
(a) the
obligation to make income compensation payments recommences from the day on
which the suspension is revoked; and
(b) the
worker must be paid the amount of income compensation for the period of
suspension unless the conciliator directs otherwise.
(7) When a direction
reducing income compensation payments is revoked —
(a) the
obligation to make income compensation payments as if the direction had not
been made recommences from the day on which the direction is revoked; and
(b) the
worker must be paid the amount of income compensation to which the worker
would have been entitled if the direction had not been made unless the
conciliator directs otherwise.
(8)
Subsections (6) and (7) apply to the revocation by an arbitrator
under section 348(2) of a direction of a conciliator under
subsection (2) suspending or reducing income compensation payments as if
a reference to the conciliator were a reference to the arbitrator.