NEW YORK, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Avik Kabessa, Chairman of the New York Independent Livery Driver Benefit Fund, announced today that a special workshop will be held on Thursday, January 14, 2010 – from 3PM to 7PM – at the Melrose Credit Union, 139-30 Queens Boulevard in Briarwood, New York.

The workshop will be the last chance for nearly 200 livery base owners in New York City, Westchester and Nassau counties to join the fund.

"As of January 1, 2010, if your livery is not a member of New York State's New York Independent Livery Driver Benefit Fund, you are the employer of the drivers and must carry full workers compensation coverage," said Kabessa. He added that to date, there are close to 200 bases that did not join, placing themselves in a grave financial liability, their bases license in violation, and place thousands of drivers with no workers' compensation coverage. "If you do not join the fund or buy full workers' compensation coverage, your base will be shut down," Kabessa concluded.

The workshop is an ideal location where livery base owners can have their questions answered. They can settle their debt and have the opportunity to join the New York Independent Livery Driver Benefit Fund at the same time.

Background

On July 26, 2008, Governor Paterson signed legislation that created the Livery Drivers Benefit Fund. The Fund provides Workers' Compensation benefits for serious injuries and crimes committed against drivers dispatched by qualifying independent livery bases licensed in Westchester, Nassau and New York City.

Effective January 1, 2010- in order to obtain, renew or retain a license, each base must provide their Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) with proof of a Workers' Compensation policy for its drivers or a certificate that they are a member of this Fund.

As of today there are still 200 Livery bases with thousands of affiliated drivers that did not join the fund and are in serious risk of being put out of business and in the process place thousands of drivers with no workers' compensation coverage and customers who will not be able to call to obtain transportation.

SOURCE New York Independent Livery Driver Benefit Fund

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