“Costs of War” Project Reveals Government Contractors Did Not Receive Compensation for Injuries

The Defense Base Act (DBA) provides workers’ compensation benefits to civilian employees working abroad on U.S. military bases or under a U.S. government contract for national defense. Under the Act, qualifying employers must acquire DBA coverage for their foreign national employees. The Act provides that benefits are available regardless of nationality. Thus, employers must secure appropriate coverage for all of their employees, including foreign nationals such as host-country nationals and third-country nationals.

Brown University Costs of War Project

A team of scholars, legal experts, human rights practitioners, and physicians working on Brown University’s “Costs of War” project revealed harrowing information about the rate of foreign workers who suffered injuries or died while working as private contractors for the U.S. government.

The report addressed the tens of thousands of workers from developing countries that took positions at U.S. military bases in Afghanistan. According to the report, many of these third-country nationals tools jobs as janitors, food-service workers, and armed guards on military bases. During the war, nearly 4,000 private contract workers suffered severe and sometimes fatal injuries due to their position.

While the DBA requires Pentagon contractors to purchase insurance for these employees, interviews suggest that over 200 workers reported that they did not receive benefits or if they did, the payouts did not adequately cover their losses. Although the government provides contractors with millions of dollars to pay the cost of workers’ compensation, many contractors fail to secure insurance.

Furthermore, as a result of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, Brown University scholars discovered that many third-country nationals received significantly less compensation than their American counterparts. Additionally, through interviews with foreign workers, researchers learned that many Pentagon contractors failed to notify injured workers of their benefits under the DBA. More startling is that many families report that these contractors did not inform them of these benefits after the death of a loved one.

Researchers found that Department of Labor records indicate that many U.S. contractors failed to pursue insurance claims for their injured employees. The total fines for multiple offenses were less than $4,000. Despite these findings, the Defense Department maintains that they are unaware of the Brown study and reiterates that the rules elucidate the circumstances under which private contractors must obtain war-hazard insurance.

Experienced Defense Base Act Attorneys

If you have suffered injuries while working as a private contractor for the U.S. government, contact the experienced Defense Base Act lawyers at Friedman Rodman & Frank. The attorneys on our team fight for the compensation of injured contractors and their families. The DBA attorneys at our law firm handle claims for workers who suffered injuries overseas, including but not limited to those injured in Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan, Qatar, and many other places worldwide. The lawyers on our team have a comprehensive understanding of the complex laws that govern these claims, and we work to secure timely and maximum compensation for our clients. Contact our office at 877-448-8585 to schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney on our team.