Print version of: http://www.nccri.ie/cdsu-migrant.html
Print version of:
http://www.nccri.ie/cdsu-migrant.html
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This section provides some contextual information about migrant workers in Ireland. It provides a useful introduction, however it is recommended that you contact the agencies listed at the end of each section for more detailed information.
Migrant Workers in IrelandArticle 2 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families 1990 defines a migrant worker as “a person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national.” Much of the recent increase in cultural diversity in Ireland is a consequence of migrant workers coming to Ireland. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently concluded that migrant workers have played an important role in contributing to sustained economic growth in Ireland, a view that is also supported by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). The vast majority of non-EEA migrant workers enter the State on employment permits and employers, not would-be employers apply for these permits. In 2000 the Department of enterprise, Trade and Employment introduced the work visa/authorisation scheme to enable the entry of skilled workers in specific skills areas. Work authorisation letters and work visas are issued directly to the immigrant by the Irish embassy in their country of origin or habitual residence. Because of skills and labour shortages, Irish businesses and employers and State agencies have been actively recruiting outside of the European Economic Area in recent years. The number of work permits increased from 6,000 in 1999 to over 47,000 work permits issued by the end of 2003. In 2003 21,956 new work permits and 25,039 renewed permits were issued to nationals from 140 different countries. The top ten countries from which the new work permits originated were Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Philippines, South Africa, Romania, China, Brazil and Australia. The vast majority of work permits are for the service industry, catering, agriculture and fisheries, and the medical and nursing sectors. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment anticipate that there will be a drop in applications for work permits as a consequence of employers sourcing a higher proportion of migrant labour from the new EU States. Many migrant workers will only want to work in Ireland for relatively short periods of time before returning home or finding work elsewhere. Others will make Ireland their home and will apply for long-term residency and citizenship. Non-EEA nationals working in Ireland with work permits/visas are entitled to the same employment rights as other EU nationals. Table 1: Total work permits issued by year and by category: 1999-2003. Source: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, available at: www.entemp.ie
More statistics on migration available at www.entemp.ie/labour/workpermits/statistics.htm
Migrants Workers and RacismThe NCCRI Racist Incident Reporting Procedure has documented racist incidents directed at migrant workers in Ireland. The types of racist incidents ranged from verbal and physical abuse to discrimination in accessing goods or services or in their employment. The Council of Europe watchdog on racism, the European Commission on Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) Second Report on Ireland stated that “more attention needs to be paid to non-citizen workers as members of Irish society rather than just economic entities and that measures should be taken to reflect this approach, such as for example the introduction of a wider range of work permit types to meet different situations and wider possibilities for family reunification.” While many migrant workers with work permits and visas enjoy adequate conditions of employment, there are also increasing reports of migrant workers experiencing poor and exploitative conditions arising from the actions or inactions of a number of rogue employers and employment agencies. By its very nature, the extent of this is difficult to assess as workers in such positions are slow to come forward out of fear of losing their employment or jeopardising the employment of their colleagues. In some cases, through language barriers or lack of access to impartial information, migrant workers may not have knowledge of employment and equality rights in Ireland. There has been an increase in the number of complaints to the Equality Tribunal taken under the race ground of the Employment Equality Act 1998. Anti-Racism Workplace WeekThere is a growing awareness of the need to address racism and support cultural diversity in the employment arena in Ireland. It is to be welcomed that the rights of migrant workers are a key focus of the Anti-Racist Workplace Week which takes place every November. For more information on this initiative, contact the Equality Authority, Clonmel St, Dublin 2, Tel: 01 4173333, web: www.equality.ie Further Reading Dr. P. Conroy & Aoife Brennan: Migrant Workers and their Experiences (2003). Available from Equality Authority. Equality Authority: Accommodating Diversity in Labour Market Programmes. Available from the Equality Authority. Immigrant Council of Ireland: Labour Migration into Ireland: Study and Recommendations on Employment Permits, Working Conditions, Family Reunification and the Integration of Migrant Workers in Ireland. (2003) Available from the Immigrant Council of Ireland. Immigrant Council of Ireland: Voices of Immigrants: The Challenges of Inclusion. (2004). Available from the Immigrant Council of Ireland. Immigrant Council of Ireland; Handbook on Immigrant’s Rights and Entitlements in Ireland (2003). Available from Immigrant Council of Ireland. Interact: Promoting an Intercultural Workplace: Building on Diversity: Report on the Experience of Irish and Migrant Workers. (October 2003). Available from www.interact2.com Irish Human Rights Commission / NCCRI: Safeguarding the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families: A Review of EU and International Standards: Implications for Policy in Ireland. April 2004. Migrants Rights Centre Ireland: Work Permits in Ireland: A Recommendation for Change (2004). Available from the MCRI. NCCRI: Migration Policy in Ireland: Reform and Harmonisation. December 2002 Further information
International sources:
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