The Government is determined to eliminate any abusive treatment of immigrant workers and to stamp out practices such as employment contract switching, according to the Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Tom Kitt.
He told Mr Charles Flanagan (FG, Laois-Offaly) that the statutory rights and entitlements of all workers, regardless of nationality, would be assured. Mr Flanagan criticised the fact that there were only 17 inspectors to police work permit arrangements and these arrangements had to be changed "to stop unscrupulous employers and job agencies from engaging in direct exploitation and extortion of immigrant workers".
The Minister of State said the Department was adjusting the administrative process to minimise the chance of employers or agencies misleading would-be immigrants. Employers will have to provide in writing specific job-related information and conditions to the worker and applications for work permits will have to be signed jointly by the employer and immigrant worker.
However he pointed out that the Department's Labour inspectorate was powerless to intervene in situations where employment offers or contracts are reneged upon.