Migrants protest at 'inflexible and rigid' work-permit syste

http://www.independent.ie/national-news ... 05355.html



By Anne-Marie Walsh Industry Correspondent

Thursday June 03 2010

MIGRANT workers marched on Government Buildings yesterday in protest at a work-permit system they described as being a "chain around our necks".

Labour Affairs Minister Dara Calleary insisted the arrangements for permit holders who want to move jobs is "sufficiently flexible" and ensures the authorities can trace their employers.

"Were employees allowed to move jobs freely within a sector, it becomes more difficult to ensure that an employee's rights are respected," Mr Calleary said.

But those who protested outside his office insisted the system was anything but flexible.

They claimed the 25,000 migrant workers who hold permits can only work for the employer stated on the permit and cannot freely change bosses.

The Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland (MRCI) has begun a campaign against what it claims are severe restrictions in the permit scheme.

It held a rally outside Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Minister Batt O'Keeffe's office and that of Mr Calleary's office on Kildare Street yesterday.

"Currently the system requires that a worker must stay a minimum of 12 months with an employer, pay another permit fee (€1,000) and wait several months during which time they are not allowed to work, before an appliation to change employer can be processed," said a spokesperson.

He said MRCI hears from migrant workers who are unable to leave exploitative working conditions because of the rigid and inflexible employment permit system on a daily basis.

"The permit is like a chain around your neck," said a migrant domestic worker.

"I couldn't leave my job. I was told by my employer that if I leave I will be illegal here and not be able to find another job.

"He said that I would be sent back home in shackles."

- Anne-Marie Walsh Industry Correspondent

Irish Independent

In case you couldn't make it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eqowPbcgdI

Glad to see this went well and peacefully too. Nice to see SIPTU rep on board too. Keep chipping away lads.

Aluta!

expect to fight this to the bitter end. best of luck with it though. Hopefully Labour will not be afraid to ignore the populist attitude in Ireland over this issue (since they are populist over other matters) and help ye out, cause forget about FIne Gael doing anything meaniful. Best of luck though

for most part, these people knew what they were getting themselves into when they came to apply for a permit. however, the world and its mother can't ignore the fact that many have been exploited. Ridiculous hours and pay and intimidation and being scared off going to the employment tribunals. Its rather embarrassing in this day and age, and particularily considering the stories of how the Irish were treated years ago in other countries (you can be damn sure that the big changes in Australia and the US came about via Irish groups and politicians of irish blood)

Out of interest,do ye believe in complete freedom to change employers or rights to change after say 2-3 years? For comparative, what is the position in other EU countries like the UK?