"Illegal immigrant workers have rights too"

[Ambiorix]

"Illegal immigrant workers have rights too"
http://www.vrtnieuws.net/cm/flandersnews.be/News/071129_illegal_compensation
Sat 29/12/07 - A court in Antwerp has ordered a company to pay compensation to an illegal immigrant worker who was involved in an industrial accident five years ago. The dailies 'De Standaard', 'Het Volk' and 'Het Nieuwsblad' report that the man sustained lasting injuries when he fell from a material lift in 2002.

The Moroccan man was working here illegal and the building contractor he was working for said he couldn't be held responsible for the accident.

(PhotoNews)
However, the socialist trades union took up the case and now a court in Antwerp has ruled that the fact that the man was working in Belgium illegally has no bearing on his right to compensation.

The contractor has been ordered to pay the man 52,000 euros in compensation.

A labour court judge has still to decide whether the contractor's insurance company will have to pay the man an invalidity pension.

The union's spokesman Ivan Grootaers told journalists that "we've always defended the view that an employer is responsible for the safety of his workers, regardless of whether or not they're working illegally".

The building contractor has said that he is to appeal

What is your opinion on this?
Are illegal immigrants to be protected by law, in case they suffer injuries,....

[MassuhDGoodName]

Nuts!

The organized Left here is demanding the exact same and more for our illegal aliens.

"The inmates are in charge of the asylum".

The only rights illegals have is the right to deportation.

[Ambiorix]

The only rights illegals have is the right to deportation.

Basta!

[newman]

Think laterally and don't be too hard on the unions.

Unions MUST protect illegals' "rights" because it's only when corporations have to pay regular wages and accord standard rights to them that employing illegals becomes less attractive.

[cjd]

"Illegal immigrant workers have rights too"
http://www.vrtnieuws.net/cm/flandersnews.be/News/071129_illegal_compensation
Sat 29/12/07 - A court in Antwerp has ordered a company to pay compensation to an illegal immigrant worker who was involved in an industrial accident five years ago. The dailies 'De Standaard', 'Het Volk' and 'Het Nieuwsblad' report that the man sustained lasting injuries when he fell from a material lift in 2002.

The Moroccan man was working here illegal and the building contractor he was working for said he couldn't be held responsible for the accident.

(PhotoNews)
However, the socialist trades union took up the case and now a court in Antwerp has ruled that the fact that the man was working in Belgium illegally has no bearing on his right to compensation.

The contractor has been ordered to pay the man 52,000 euros in compensation.

A labour court judge has still to decide whether the contractor's insurance company will have to pay the man an invalidity pension.

The union's spokesman Ivan Grootaers told journalists that "we've always defended the view that an employer is responsible for the safety of his workers, regardless of whether or not they're working illegally".

The building contractor has said that he is to appeal

What is your opinion on this?
Are illegal immigrants to be protected by law, in case they suffer injuries,....

Think laterally and don't be too hard on the unions.

Unions MUST protect illegals' "rights" because it's only when corporations have to pay regular wages and accord standard rights to them that employing illegals becomes less attractive.

You are exactly right newman and it seems that when illegals take injury cases to court here in America they are getting reimbursed for their medical bills. They also have been getting big settlements if they are no longer able to work.   I read about this sort of thing in a trade magazine article last year warning contractors that they were playing with fire by hiring illegals. I think it great that the Judges are seeing fit to do this. Its a great deterrent against penny pinching contractors hiring illegals thinking they are going to save money. If they were hiring legal workers that worker would have been entitled to compensation which would be covered by the contractors insurance. Although this is giving illegals recognition in the courts that they don't deserve its also working out to be a nice deterrent against breaking the law by hiring illegals.