Independent Workers' Union Exposes Abuse Of Migrant Workers

dublin | worker & community struggles and protests | feature

Thursday June 21, 2007 16:44

by Brian H - Independent Workers' Union

brian.halpin at ucdconnect dot ie

085 710 3630

Bounced cheques, withheld P45s...

Ray O'Reilly and Amy

From the newswire: The Independent Workers’ Union exposed the latest case of the exploitation of migrant workers in the Celtic Tiger Economy. The case concerns seven Chinese females all working for Klean Fit limited located at unit 1, Old River House, Templegoue, Dublin 6 West.

The dispute arises with the owner of the company, Ms. Anita Ryan, who has issued a series of bounced cheques to the workers as wage payment. This now results with the employer owing the workers €11,323.51 between them.

She is also holding on to the workers P45’s which is causing them untold hardship and problems obtaining further employment and claiming social welfare benefits.

The issue of the exploitation of migrant workers has been previously addressed by the IWU, who have attempted to unionise people working jobs that are part of the new precarious sector of the economy. The Irish Center for Migration Studies at UCC has some interesting analysis of the rapid, piecemeal approach to immigration policy adopted by the Irish state over the last decade or so. Section 3.3. especially addresses the differences between work-permit holders (and their lack of access to healthcare) and visa-holders (who are less tied to a specific employer, allowing them to leave unsatisfactory working conditions).

One archived article of interest from 2000 is Nuala Haughey's report on Dr. Piaras Mac Éinrí's fears that Ireland was developing a two-tier labour market. It seems that the IWU are taking positive steps to prevent this weakening of the rights of all workers within Ireland for the mutual benefit of all.

IWU PR continues:

Amy explained how she was met with excuse after excuse when she pressed her employer for payment. However, she trusted that her employer would pay her wages because she always handled her in a polite manner and seemed sincere. Amy worked with the company as a manager for 3 years and she received no payment from September 2006 to January 2007. She is owed, in total, 5,587.62 euro.

Wendy became pregnant while working for the company. But, she was forced to move back to China because she was not getting paid for the work she had done. Moreover, the child when born will face many restrictions in life as he/she will be born to unmarried parents. At the age of 22, Wendy’s hopes and dreams of a new life in Ireland have been shattered by a rogue employer. She is owed 2,455.65 euro.

Ray O’Reilly from the Independent Workers’ Union said “we have been struggling to try and get the company to see reason to pay these workers for work done. We sent letters to them, tried to make phone calls and the girls have been going back and forward to them”

The Independent Workers’ Union will proceed for hearings before the Labour Court on behalf of the seven workers under the Payment of Wages Act 1981, The Organisation of Time Act 1997 and the Minimum Notice and terms of Employment Act 1973-2001. They will also revert to traditional trade union methods if necessary.

The gross abuse of migrant workers is a disturbing reality in the Celtic Tiger economy but only membership of a trade union which puts its members first can provide the necessary protection and solidarity to workers