PROTESTERS AT the Philippines embassy yesterday urged Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin to establish a transparent visa regime for domestic employees of foreign diplomats in Ireland.
Such a regime must include employment contracts that comply with Irish labour laws, said Siobhán O’Donoghue, director of the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland (MRCI). “It is shameful and unfair that domestic workers employed by diplomats are being denied access to their basic rights.”
Domestic workers from several countries gathered at the Philippines embassy to protest against its decision not to attend a rights hearing at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) last Friday.
The hearing followed a complaint by a domestic worker formerly employed at the embassy. She alleges the embassy violated her employment rights and did not pay her the minimum wage.
The migrant rights centre, which is providing legal assistance to the worker, said the embassy had shown “disregard for Irish law” by failing to attend.
Members of MRCI’s domestic workers’ action group staged the demonstration yesterday afternoon. The protest, attended by some 30 domestic workers, coincided with a reception to mark the official opening of the embassy’s new offices on St Stephen’s Green.
Among those taking part was Valentyna Khristonsen, a Ukrainian woman who took a case to the LRC alleging her employment rights were violated when she worked in the private residence of former South African ambassador Priscilla Jana.
The case was not heard because Ms Jana invoked diplomatic immunity. The South African embassy and Ms Khristonsen settled the case last month.
“It is important to highlight this issue,” Ms Khristonsen said yesterday. “When it comes to seeking justice, together we are stronger.”
Hilda Regaspi, of the action group, said the woman whose case is before the LRC had been deeply affected by her experience.
“It takes a lot of courage for a domestic worker to stand up for their rights when they have been violated, especially by diplomats who have more power,” she said. “Domestic workers, like all other workers, deserve the right to a fair hearing and due process regarding grievances, including those employed by foreign diplomats.”
Joy Quintana, consul general at the embassy, came outside to meet the Filipino nationals participating in the protest. She invited them to attend the reception but declined to speak to the media.