Labour to clarify migrant workers policy

THE Labour Party is to publish a ‘substantial’ policy paper to set out the thinking behind leader Pat Rabbitte’s comments on the displacement of Irish workers by migrant labour.

Mr Rabbitte’s claim that it might be necessary to introduce job permits for migrant workers from EU countries provoked claims that he was playing the ‘race card’.

Yesterday, seven activists from within Labour wrote to national papers distancing themselves from the concept which they described as “disgraceful and (that) flies in the face of what Labour stands for”.

The activists, mainly members of Labour Youth, said that the comments bore “no relation to Labour Party policy on migrant labour, current or previous”.

However, reliable sources within the party said yesterday that the activists may have misunderstood the point being made by Mr Rabbitte. They said he was pointing out the danger of Irish Ferries type situations happening in other sectors of the economy, where Irish workers are displaced by workers from other EU countries, who are paid at the lowest possible rate.

The Irish Examiner understands that Mr Rabbitte is preparing a paper on displacement by some sectors of the economy, due to be published by Friday.