Migrants ‘taking their lives’

THE FAILURE of the British and Irish Governments to protect migrant workers is leading some desperate immigrants to take their own lives, the biennial conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) heard yesterday.

Calling for both Governments to be more proactive in protecting the rights of migrants, Pamela Dooley - an official from Britain’s largest public service union Unison - said racism from employers, colleagues and Government departments was a daily part of life for thousands in Ireland and Britain.

“In the North we have now witnessed more than one racist killing ... We must exert maximum pressure on employers, particularly those content to exploit for profit. And that means making recruitment and organisation a priority. We must confront the racists at all times and we must recognise the internal challenge we face,” she said.

“Some have said that the plight of migrant workers is a disaster waiting to happen. For some workers it has already happened.

“We recently faced the worst possible case of a nurse who took her own life because of the treatment she faced,” she said.