Call for measures to protect asylum seekers

The Irish human rights watchdog is to press the Government to ensure that measures to protect against exploitation are included in any conditions, for access to employment, for people living in direct provision.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission will ask the government and the Oireachtas to ensure “an effective and enduring right to work under the Constitution is put in place”, following yesterday’s formal Supreme Court declaration that the absolute ban on asylum seekers working is unconstitutional.

Chief commissioner Emily Logan said: “The right to work is essential for realising other human rights and forms an inseparable and inherent part of human dignity.”