Construction workers already don’t and won’t receive health benefits

In most states, companies are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance so that if a worker is injured on the job, medical bills, partial salary, rehabilitation costs and training for a new trade, if necessary, will be paid regardless of whether the injured person has health insurance. However, is the worker is classified as an independent contractor or contract worker, then he or she is not covered by this benefit.

And, according to the Workers Defense Project, the southern U.S. is the region most likely to have construction workers laboring as independent contractors.

As part of its study, the Workers Defense Project reported that only 5% of the 1,435 workers it interviewed in six southern states said workers’ compensation would cover the cost of their work injuries, and 57% said they earned less than $15 an hour.

In Houston, specifically, 40% of construction workers interviewed had no health insurance, retirement savings, paid vacations or sick leave. More than 30% said they did not have breaks during the day and that their employer did not provide drinking water on the jobsite.