A dramatic increase in the number of workers from the 10 new EU states seeking jobs in Ireland has been recorded since the Union expanded on May 1st, writes Chris Dooley, Industry and Employment Correspondent
Figures provided by the Department of Social and Family Affairs indicate that nearly 23,000 people from the new member-states have sought employment in the Republic during the past three months.
This is nearly 10 times the number from the same countries granted work permits in the first four months of the year.
The figures show the number of people from each of the 10 states who have been allocated PPS (personal public service) numbers, which all employees must hold, since May 1st.
More than a third of the total number given such numbers in May, June and July were from the new member-states.
They include almost 11,000 people from Poland, nearly 5,000 from Lithuania and over 2,000 each from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. By comparison, fewer than 2,000 people from those four countries combined were granted work permits in the four months up to May 1st.
The Department told The Irish Times the number allocated PPS numbers provides an indication of the numbers from the new member-states who have come to Ireland to work. The figures could also include some social welfare claimants. But the vast majority are likely to have sought PPS numbers for employment purposes. This is because they are not entitled to claim social welfare unless they can show they are habitually resident in the State.
Prior to May 1st, citizens of the 10 states were required to hold work permits before taking up employment in the State. Since then they have had an unrestricted right to work here. Despite the apparent surge in the numbers seeking work, there is no indication of a negative impact on the labour market.
The most recent live register figures showed that unemployment had dropped to an 18-month low of 167,000, or just over 4 per cent, in June.
SIPTU regional secretary, Mr Mike Jennings, who has highlighted issues concerning migrant workers, said he was not aware of any significant increase in competition for jobs. Some employers, he said, were still talking of labour shortages, so there was no evidence of a damaging influx of people seeking jobs.
Mr Jennings said some of those from the 10 states allocated PPS numbers since May 1st might have arrived before that date, but taken steps to "regularise" their situation.
Nevertheless, the numbers allocated PPS numbers from the new member-states have risen steadily over the the three months, from 6,932 in June to 8,712 last month. Ms Malgorzata Kozik, the consul at the Polish Embassy in Dublin, said the number of people from that country seeking assistance at the embassy had doubled since May 1st. She said the majority of Polish people in Ireland worked in the services sector or in "manual jobs" such as on building sites and in meat factories, but she had also encountered a number of professionals, including architects.
Irish employers appeared to have a high regard for Polish workers, and she hoped current policies would prove beneficial to both countries.
Mr Jennings said the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment had made increased efforts to facilitate people on work permits who were being exploited and needed to change jobs.
However, many migrant workers remained unaware of this and some had left jobs, for which they had permits, to move into the black economy. The figures released yesterday might include some who were returning to regular employment.