If you live in New York, you already know that our city is a melting pot of diverse cultures. Law-abiding and peaceful people are welcome here, which is probably why so many foreign nationals immigrate to New York City. We welcome them because they contribute to our economy by working and spending locally.
The difference between injured American-born workers and immigrants is their perceived ability to access workers’ compensation benefits. They believe—or have been told—that they do not have the right to file a claim. We want you to know that state laws say otherwise.
Immigrant workers have many rights in New York
In nearly every employment situation, immigrant workers have the right to workers’ compensation benefits. This includes:
- Undocumented immigrant workers
- Cash-paid migrants
- Independent migrant contractors
- Immigrants paid “under the table”
- Unreported (to the government) immigrant workers
In the examples above, injured migrants typically qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
What stops migrated employees from filing?
In many cases, employers may try to stop immigrants from exercising their worker rights. Other times, the worker may not have learned how worker’s compensation functions in our nation. As such, they do not understand their rights in the workplace.
Our attorneys want all migrated employees in the state to know that they are not alone when facing an on-the-job injury. Helping you get financial help and medical treatment in the wake of an injury keeps the New York workforce stable, regardless of your immigration status.
If you are an injured immigrant worker facing trouble with your claim, please reach out for legal assistance. In the meantime, continue reading our website for more about your rights as a migrant worker.