World News

Latino labourers claim Baltimore Bridge reconstruction is ‘too dangerous’ following six migrant fatalities

Latino labourers have expressed their fears about taking up jobs in the reconstruction of the Baltimore bridge following the collapse incident that claimed the lives of six migrants last month.

In an interview, one of the construction workers from Guatemala stated that he would not take up the opportunity to work on the new Francis Scott Key Bridge project, even if he was paid a million dollars.

Early on March 26th, a cargo ship collided with a column on a bridge, causing it to collapse, and eight Latino migrant workers who were repairing potholes fell into the Patapsco River.

There were two survivors, and one of them was rescued from the water. Unfortunately, six others did not survive.

The bodies of Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, 38, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, have been retrieved by divers. Three men, Jose Mynor Lopez, 35, Miguel Luna, 49, and an unidentified individual, are still missing.

The men came from various Latin American countries, such as Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, and Guatemala.

After the disaster, labour experts have noted that it's probably going to be the migrant workers who will rebuild the bridge.

The spotlight was shone on the predicament of migrant workers following the incident, as worries continue to be raised about the treatment of construction labourers, as well as what measures could be put in place to improve their safety while working.

In 2021, around 30% of all construction workers in the US were of Latino origin, as per the data released by the US Bureau of Labour.

Additionally, foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers accounted for 14% of all work-related fatalities in the same year.

Most of these fatalities occurred in the construction industry.