Every year, millions of people leave their home countries in search of a better life. Many immigrants enter new countries without knowing much about their new place or what it has to offer them. This can be dangerous, as it leaves them vulnerable to exploitation at work.
Whilst it’s not something people think of off the top of their head, understanding how workers’ compensation works in your new country is important.
It would be wrong to assume the system is similar to your home country. In a country like Australia, learning about worker’s compensation will help keep you safe and most importantly – able to work without fear. Here are things you should know about worker’s compensation if you’re an immigrant.
You’re Eligible For Compensation Even on a Temporary Working Visa
If you had to leave your home country and move to a new country for work, chances are you have a temporary visa that allows you to work. In Australia, workplaces are required by law to have insurance for all their employees. What this means is that if there’s an incident at work that requires compensation, the insurance company would pay for any medical treatment or loss in pay. This isn’t restricted to only citizens or permanent residents, workers with temporary visas are eligible too.
Lawyers Can Help Out in a Lawsuit
Lawyers are very important in worker’s compensation cases because they make sure everything is done correctly and within the bounds of the law. They also know all about worker’s compensation laws so they can advise you on how to proceed with a claim. If you’ve been injured and unable to work at no fault of your own, you have the right to seek compensation as stated by an expert lawyer in compensation law in Brisbane from the person or company who is deemed “at fault”. Being an immigrant doesn’t exempt you from being able to get a lawyer to fight your cause.
Workers’ Compensation is Your Right
As a worker, it is your right to be protected from any injuries or illnesses caused at work. Whether you suffer from an accident, get ill, or are diagnosed with an illness due to exposure in the workplace, having workers’ compensation will help make sure you don’t lose out financially. Without worker’s compensation, you’d have to cover all your medical bills and loss in income yourself. And that isn’t fair considering the fact that you’re in the situation because you were at your duty post.
Inform Your Employer Immediately
When something at work injures you, the first thing to do is inform your employer of it. If you don’t report an injury or illness until after you’ve left your job due to said injury, it can complicate things. Not only will you have to pay for your own medical bills, but it can affect any benefits you’re entitled to in the future.
It’s also important to report if your employer fails to provide you with the required safety gear or protective equipment. If this is the case, not only are they breaking the law, but you could be putting yourself in further danger because you wouldn’t have the proper protection.
Workers’ compensation is an important benefit that can help injured workers get back on their feet. If you’re an immigrant worker, it’s important to know your rights and how to file a claim if you’re injured on the job. In this article, we’ve provided a basic overview of workers’ compensation and what immigrants should know about filing a claim. We hope this information helps you protect yourself in the event of an injury.
