A claim for compensation under this Act and any compensation payment scheme are entitled to a preference over the unsecured debts of the employer to the same amount as the wages of labor are preferred by the laws of this State. Nothing in this section may be construed as impairing any lien that the employee may have acquired.   [PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]