Judge: Exploited migrant ‘no right’ to €92k award

A High Court judge made no secret of the fact that the quashing of a €92,000 award to a Pakistani chef who may have been “the victim of the most appalling exploitation by his employer”, gave him little satisfaction.

Mr Justice Gerard Hogan said he was sending a copy of his judgment to the Ceann Comhairle, the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad and the minister for employment so the Oireachtas might consider the consequences of his decision on existing employment legislation.

Judge Hogan held that the Labour Court could not lawfully have awarded the money, most of which was for back pay, for breach of rights to chef Mohammad Younis in respect of an employment contract that was illegal.