The Green Party has called on the Government to introduce a quota-based "green card" visa system for skilled immigrant workers.
Publishing the party's national immigration policy this morning, Ciarán Cuffe, the party's spokesperson for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, said the Government had failed to provide an efficient and integrated system to deal with increased immigration.
"The number of non-EU nationals working in Ireland has risen from 6,000 in 1999 to 50,000 in 2003,and since EU enlargement in May 2004 more than 100,000 people from new EU member states have taken up employment in Ireland," said Mr Cuffe.
"It is clear from these figures that steps must be taken immediately to ensure that Ireland puts in place an organised and efficient immigration system."
The Green Party says decisions on how many immigrants should be admitted into the country should be based on a points-based quota system rather than a system of direct labour needs.
It argues that people with the most needed skills should be given higher points and shown preference in the granting of visas, as happens in Canada. Other less skilled workers could be chosen as part of a lottery-based green card system such as applies in the United States.
The party also argues for the need to shift the issuing of work permits from the employer to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to reduce the high levels of exploitation of migrant workers in Ireland. It has called for permits to be granted directly to employees, rather than to their employers.
Currently, employers need to apply for work permits on behalf of workers from outside of the EU. According to the Green Party, because these permits are non-transferable, migrant workers are unable to move from job to job, leaving them at the mercy of unscrupulous employers.
Speaking today, Patrick Maphoso from the Migrant Worker's campaign, said the exploitation of non-national workers in Ireland is widespread, with some employees working for as little as €400 per month and receiving only one day off every fortnight.
"Removing permits from the hands of employers is essential," he said.
Mr Cuffe said there was a need to establish a fully resourced labour inspectorate to deal with the mistreatment of non-national workers. "We have a situation at present where there are more people checking dog licences than there are checking the working conditions of employees," he said.
