If it is worth it I am considering covering the worker comp ins. For my laborers.the main problem I'm having is finding guys that have $700 to throw down on a policy to make 10 or 12 bucks an hour.

Common issue. However, be aware of covering laborers that way, they may be considered employees and any accidents and injuries they have will go against your experience mod. You may also have to withhold FICA. You may be better to use a labor contracting service. They will cover WC and GL.

No you can not claim them as independent contractors and cover them under their own workers comp.

Also if you are hiring them as 1099 10 bucks a hour does not cut it for any level of skill labor. A 1099 worker if they actually report their wages ( you have to report it of course) would have to pay 25 to 30 percent of their earnings in taxes with no insurance or benefits.

Which of course is why they don't have insurance, a sub contractor with insurance that pay taxes and so on is going to cost you more than 10 bucks.

Sorry to harp on that, but I pay some of the day labor people I pick up on the street more than that when I hire part time labor