Foreign students ‘at risk’
Due to come into effect in February, the system makes no provision for students from outside the EU, many of whom come here to learn English but find themselves effectively in bonded labour.
Many have to work a small number of hours in several jobs to pay for their education.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) said it is bemused the Government omitted students from the scheme even though it agreed to do so in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016.
Esther Lynch, ICTU policy officer, claimed the permit system had been rushed in and is full of holes.
“What mystifies Congress is the rush to introduce this scheme when it is still a work in progress. It remains incomplete because it fails to address the issue of non-EEA/EU students,” she said.
“That leaves a huge, gaping hole in the provisions.
“Again, Government committed to deal with this in Towards 2016 and they restated that commitment this week. Why introduce a partially completed structure, as opposed to a coherent whole? Did electoral considerations play their part?”
It is understood the Department of Enterprise has given the ICTU assurances that it will deal with the issue in the coming weeks.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Enterprise said discussions with interested parties in relation to permits for students are ongoing.
