Migrant workers come from other countries to work in the UK. They might include seasonal workers, full-time and part-time employees, and contract or self-employed workers.
Migrant workers working in the UK are entitled to equal pay to British workers doing the same job and must be paid at least the national minimum wage.
They are protected by UK employment laws, have the right to be paid annual leave and statutory sick pay, and must pay tax and national insurance.
Provided you are registered to work and are in the UK legally, you have the same rights under UK employment law as any other worker and your employer has a duty of care to prevent accidents happening to you while at work.
If you are working illegally in the UK, there are different laws that might affect a claim. You should still be entitled to a fair and safe working environment, however your employers might not have the same legal protections and insurances that will help keep you safe at work.
Our lawyers will look into your case in detail, and help you to understand the applicable laws in each specific case. If you have any doubt about the validity of your claim, get in touch and we can help to support you.
We can gather evidence from independent medical professionals and health and safety specialists. These experts will analyse why your accident happened and can determine any future implications to your health. They’ll also advise us on the care you’ll need in the future.
Compensation can make a real difference to your life, ensuring that you can access the healthcare and support to make the best recovery you can. As a migrant worker you may need to stay in the UK longer for rehabilitation and recovery, or you may even wish to settle permanently. Our immigration solicitors may be able to help if that is the decision you make.
You may use the compensation to help you return home, for example flights, travel and healthcare support in your home country. Our specialist team are experienced in cross-boarder jurisdiction and can help determine where the claim might need to be brought or how best to manage any compensation payments across international boarders.
Compensation may help you continue to support family in your native country. By making a claim with us, we can also get you funds which can help pay for:
- Private healthcare treatment
- Physiotherapy
- Psychological therapy
- Expenses (such as travel costs to hospital appointments)
- Repatriation, relocation or healthcare support to return home
- Loss of income
- Household adaptations
The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries and the likelihood that you’ll make a full recovery. We’ll seek expert opinions on what care you’ll need to ensure that the compensation we claim will be sufficient.
If your employer accepts responsibility for your accident, we could help you get early compensation payments. Often known as interim payments, these funds will be taken from your final settlement and can help pay for ongoing care costs and expenses, before your claim has settled.
You normally have three years to make a claim from the date of your accident. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. As a migrant worker you may choose to return home following an accident. We can help you to determine which jurisdiction might be best to bring your claim in. Different jurisdictions have different time limits on making a claim so speak to one of our team to find out what the rules might be.
In England and Wales the exceptions are:
- Under 18s – you can claim on behalf of a child who was on work experience or working part-time. No time limits apply in these circumstances until the child turns 18. When the child turns 18 they can make their own claim but the three year time limit will then apply.
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Mental capacity – you can make a claim on behalf of someone who doesn’t have the ability to do so themselves, including when someone has suffered a serious head/brain injury as a result of their accident. In these circumstances, no time limits apply.
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Fatal claims – if you’re claiming on behalf of a loved one who died, you’ll either have three years from the date of their death or the date of the accident to make a claim.
If you have any concerns about the time limits for claiming compensation, we’ll be able to talk through your options in a free initial consultation.
We have experienced solicitors based across the country who specialise in helping people to claim compensation after accidents at work. We know the issues that you and your loved ones may be facing, and we can answer all of your questions. We have lawyers who can speak multiple languages and have translation services we use for international clients. If as a migrant worker, English is not your first language, we can put you in touch with one of our team who can guide you through your claim.
As well as helping you claim compensation, we can also help with your rehabilitation and recovery. If you can’t work because of your injuries, then we can also advise you on benefit entitlement and arrange for the best possible support to help you recover.
Having helped many other migrant workers who have been injured, we can use our experience to get a positive outcome for you and your family.
