Workers Compensation Implications of Hiring Illegal Workers

What Happens When Employers Hire Illegal Workers

The short answer: Indictments on 29 counts of knowingly hiring illegal immigrants by a federal grand jury.

A South Carolina poultry processing plant was indicted for allegedly hiring illegal workers since 2000 and accused of encouraging employees to use falsified immigration verification documents. Both the company’s human resources manager and plant complex manager named in the indictment pleaded not guilty.

Federal agents raided the poultry plant, detaining more than 300 suspected illegal workers in the largest workplace raid ever in the Carolinas.

The raid followed the human resource manager’s indictment. In addition, several plant supervisors were charged and sentenced and will be deported once time is served.

The director of the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission said the agency reviewed the poultry company’s practices, including its reporting of workers’ injuries at one of its plants but gave no specifics. (workersxzcompxzkit)

Company officials declared intentions of full cooperation with the federal government, indicating the company followed all state and federal laws and kept records for all workers’ comp injuries in accordance with OSHA guidelines and cared properly for injured workers. The officials said the company would be vindicated.

U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins said the indictments were the last of the grand jury’s work expected in relation to the case.

Extracted: The Greenville News, by Eric Connor and David Dykes, 7/17/09.
This blog originally appeared on the LexisNexis Workers’ Compensation Law Center.

Reposted with Permission Visit LexisNexis for more information and full reports.
http://law.lexisnexis.com/practiceareas/Workers-Compensation-Law-Blog/Workers-Compensation/Workers-Comp-Fraud-Blotter-7232009

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