Injury after recruitment by an individual subcontractor

Reported facts

Construction work was subcontracted to an individual lacking employer qualification. Zhang was injured on site; a prior judgment rejected employment with the construction contractor.

Published outcome

After official work-injury recognition, the court nevertheless required the contractor to pay the applicable uninsured injury benefits.

Limits when comparing your own situation

Illegal subcontracting and formal injury recognition were material; direct employment was not required for this responsibility. This does not mean every accident or subcontract makes the contractor liable.

Questions to prepare for your own situation

• Who recruited, managed and paid me at the site?
• Which accident, treatment and official recognition records exist?
• Can I identify the contracting chain without taking confidential files?

These preparation questions are our editorial guidance, not findings in the original case.