Migrants in low-paid jobs being ‘exploited’, warn campaigners

Migrant workers in low-paid service jobs are facing shocking exploitation, campaigners have warned.

A survey of those employed in restaurants, security, home care and domestic work found that discrimination is rife, with people putting up with precarious conditions, widespread breaches of employment law and chronic underpayment.

The Migrants Rights Centre of Ireland (MRCI) said almost half of those spoken to are paid less than the minimum wage of €8.65 an hour and live on less than €300 a week.

Gráinne O’Toole, a workplace rights co-ordinator with the group, said unscrupulous employers are stealing from vulnerable workers.

“One of the most interesting findings is that most migrant workers are fully aware of their rights but do not feel empowered to challenge their employers when breaches occur.

“We must ensure that migrant workers are facilitated to access justice and end this culture of impunity for exploitative employers.”

The MRCI surveyed 104 workers from November 2014 to March 2015 and followed up its study with three focus groups to examine key issues in more detail.

The organisation said immigrants make up 12.47% of Ireland’s population — 578,000 people — and since 2001 more than 90,000 have become Irish citizens.

The top five nationalities surveyed were from Pakistan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, China and India, with most aged between 25 and 44. More than half were long-term residents or had Irish citizenship.

The campaigners said almost two-thirds of migrants were required to work extra hours without pay, almost half had no contract and a quarter do not get a payslip.

Ms O’Toole said: “There are no penalties against employers who have withheld wages or denied workers the benefits rightfully owed to an employee. This is wage theft and needs to be addressed head on.”