10% of our labour force is at work across EU
A total of 196,800 Irish citizens were registered as working in another EU country last year, a higher percentage than from all the other countries except Romania, Portugal and Lithuania.
On the other hand, there were an almost equal number of other EU nationals working in Ireland at 200,400, making up close to 11% of the country’s workforce.
Only Lithuania had a bigger percentage, reflecting the number of Russians who do not have citizenship, and Cyprus, which traditionally attracts non-nationals because of its year-round, warm climate.
Most EU nationals working in Ireland came from Britain, followed by Poles and Lithuanians. The country had the highest percentage of highly educated incomers in the EU and the highest number of recent newcomers reflecting the boom years of the Celtic Tiger.
After 2004, big numbers from the new eastern and central European EU members flooded into Ireland and other countries that opened up their labour markets to them.
Ireland, according to EU statistics, benefited more than any other country to the tune of 3% of its GDP followed by Britain at 1.3% from the influx of young educated people taking jobs for which almost a half were over qualified.
But the trend has changed with big numbers from countries experiencing major unemployment, like Spain, seeing their people immigrate to Poland and Germany.
But everywhere in the EU people are experiencing discrimination and difficulties getting and keeping work. They are being accused of “benefit tourism” despite the figures in countries such as Britain showing they contribute more and take less from the social system than locals.
Reports collected by the European Commission tell of a Spaniard being told by employment services in Ireland that he could only apply for certain jobs and the rest were open only to Irish nationals. There were similar stories in other states.
Only 3% of the EU workforce is living in a member state other than their own despite free movement operating for the past 50 years.
Employment Commissioner Laszlo Andor said that the rules are clear, but are not being applied properly. Add to this the fact that most people don’t know their rights or how to assert them. As a result, he wants countries to have an equality board to deal with complaints and ensure rights are respected.
The commission fears politicians will erect more barriers as Romanian and Bulgarian workers being entitled to work in other EU countries from next year.
