Business
Illegal workers have their day in court
Washington | July 08, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Illegal immigrant workers seeking wages owed by employers have notched a few surprise successes in U.S. courts, observers say. Although it is illegal to hire an illegal immigrant, the federal Fair Labor Standards Act does not discuss the issue of immigration status, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. Those surprised by favorable rulings include the illegal workers themselves, as many do not realize they are entitled to sue for wages, The Washington Post reported. Day laborers are a vulnerable group. After surveying day-labor sites in 25 states, the National Day Labor Organizing Network in Los Angeles said 50 percent of all day laborers had been underpaid or not paid on at least one occasion. Illegal workers also fear deportation by revealing their status in court. Some judges are also unsure if laws apply to them. When a Washington superior court judge questioned whether or not an illegal worker was entitled to legal protection on wages in a recent case, however, attorney Laura Varela showed the judge federal statutes that showed all workers were protected. The worker from El Salvador, whose full name was withheld due to his illegal status, won the case, the Post reported. (UPI)
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