The Government must do more to protect and support migrants or run the risk of severe racial problems in the future, trade unions warned today.
With a new round of social partnership talks looming, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) insisted it was time for a coherent immigration strategy to be adopted.
Sallyanne Kinahan, Ictu assistant general secretary, called for a complete overhaul of the Work Permits Bill 2005, which, she said, would not prevent the shameful exploitation of non-nationals.
"What we have found with the Bill is that it's complex and confusing. Good law is simple law and this Bill certainly is not," she said.
"The key thing that we have sought is that ownership of the permission to work, the employment permit, should be owned by the employee. That's the single biggest change we wanted to see and for many migrant workers that will not be the case."
Ms Kinahan claimed the existing regime was open to abuse as some employers could hold on to permits.
She said the Bill did not cover the huge number of low-paid workers in the hospitality sector or in domestic roles. In a briefing paper outlining the needs of immigrants, Ictu highlighted the dispute at Gama Construction earlier this year when 80 Turkish workers were compensated following a row over pay.
The body said allowing employees to hold their own work permits would prevent a repeat of the Gama controversy.
Congress warned immigration would become a bigger issue in the next few years as the numbers of people coming here increased. The body noted a census from 2002 which showed 6 per cent of the population were not born here.
Figures from the Department of Enterprise have suggested there are 137,000 non-Irish nationals working in Ireland, 7 per cent of the labour force. Congress also warned there were disturbing trends across Europe, with many communities showing unease with the cultural aspects and pressures of immigration.
The policy document also included a series of recommendations.
- Migrant workers must always be paid the going rate;
- The number of labour inspectors must be increased to 75 to ensure greater standards;
- Migrant workers must have the right to remain in the country if they wish to fight unfair or constructive dismissal cases;
- Firms working on public contracts must prove full compliance with employment and equality law.
- Recruitment agencies must be regulated.
- Families of immigrants should have the right to join them in Ireland.
PA