Michigan farmworkers and immigrant rights advocates are urging Governor Gretchen Whitmer to veto a package of bills aimed at protecting employers from COVID-19 workplace lawsuits.
The bills would protect employers from getting sued by employees who became sick with COVID-19 in the workplace, unless there's proof the business failed to follow safety regulations.
Margarita works at a poultry processing facility where she says she caught COVID-19. We are only using her first name to protect her identity. She says COVID made her unable to work for almost a month.
“Yo tuve que parar de trabajar en ese tiempo porque yo no tenía la fuerza necesaria porque en si todavía te quedas con esa debilidad en el cuerpo.”
She says she didn’t feel strong enough because COVID left her so weak and so she had to stop working during that time.
According to the bills, a worker only has a standing if they have been hospitalized for at least 24 hours, have been incapicated for 14 days or have died from COVID-19.
Margartia is one of many farm workers joining the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, United Farm Workers Foundation, and Michigan League for Public Policy urging Governor Gretchen Whitmer to veto the bills.
The bills now move to the Senate following approval in the House.