A Latvian mushroom-picker has been awarded €8,000 by the Employment Appeals Tribunal for unfair dismissal, which took place when she sought the advice of the Migrant Advice Centre in Dublin.
Ms Vita Baldina arrived in the Republic in 2002 to work for Mr Pádraig Moloney, of Cloncullen, Ballymahon, Co Longford, as a mushroom-picker. A work permit had been issued for her in November 2001.
She lived in a caravan supplied by her employer, and was paid €220 a week for working seven days a week, 12 hours a day. A sum of €20 a week was deducted for her accommodation. Some weeks there were other deductions, which she thought were for tax.
In November 2002 she asked her employer about the renewal of her work permit. He said that, as it was coming up to Christmas, it was not necessary yet. She also asked about holidays. She wished to visit her children in Latvia.
In April 2003 she asked again about the work permit and about a holiday to visit her children. She wanted to return to work after seeing them, and did not want to have a problem with the immigration authorities.
He became very angry and gave her a letter which she did not understand.
She went to see a friend and then to the Migrant Advice Centre. On her return to work on the 18th she told the employer she had been to the centre, and he dismissed her.
The employer did not appear at the hearing, so it accepted the uncontested evidence of Ms Baldina, and found unanimously that she had been unfairly dismissed.