If you are an undocumented immigrant in New York, you might not know what your rights are. This can be true for times when you experience difficulties at work, for example, if you become injured in an accident. As an undocumented immigrant, it is important to read about your rights and how you can be protected by the law in the United States.
New York is a special city because it does not cooperate very much with the federal immigration authorities. This means that undocumented immigrants in New York are able to get municipal ID cards. However, many undocumented immigrants are wrongly told that they cannot receive compensation when they are injured while working.
Your rights as an undocumented immigrant in New York
Although undocumented immigrants are not legally allowed to work in the United States, this is the employer’s responsibility to enforce. Your employer has the responsibility to verify that all their workers are legally allowed to work in the United States.
Therefore, when employees who are undocumented immigrants get injured at work, their employer might argue that they are not able to receive workers’ compensation because they are not legally allowed to work in the United States. If you are an employee, it is always best to do your own research. In the state of New York, as well as in many other states, employees are still eligible for workers’ compensation.
What workers’ compensation can I benefit from in New York?
Your injury will probably mean that you will have to pay for medical bills and suffer from lost wages because you had to take unpaid leave in order to recover. This is where workers’ compensation can help. It will cover all the necessary medical services relating to the injury that you suffered from as a result of work. In addition, a portion of the wages you lost will still be paid to you.
If you are an undocumented worker in New York who has been injured at work, it is important that you know your rights to workers’ compensation and that you take action when necessary.