The findings show that fatal injuries have increased by 7%in the past year, while for other racial and ethnic groups, it has gone down. Latino worker fatalities in 2013 were the highest since 2008. Workplace safety experts speculate that many Latino workers may be reluctant to report problems on the job or to file grievances when they encounter hazardous situations. California Labor Commissioner Julie Su recently told a job safety publication in addition to language barriers, fear of deportation may keep undocumented workers quiet in the face of dangers.
The implementation of tougher immigration laws in the U.S., coupled with recent record deportations of undocumented immigrants, have created a less hospitable climate overall for immigrant workers to voice their concerns at the workplace. A sizable portion of Latino workers are immigrants, as reflected in the recent census survey finding.
For more information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics page, visit here.