ICTU march highlights exploitation of foreign workers

Thousands of foreign workers are being exploited here every year because they do not know their rights, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has claimed at a march to highlight the issue.

The march took place in Dublin today as part of a bid to urge foreign workers to join a union.

Spokesman Fergus Whelan said Irish employers were also taking advantage of the fact that some foreign workers do not speak good English.

"We’ve seen a huge expansion in the Irish labour market, particularly with lots of migrant workers coming in from Eastern Europe," he said.

"They’re coming in with very few English language skills and absolutely no knowledge of their rights and entitlements under Irish labour law. Unfortunately, we’re coming across many cases of cynical exploitation of these vulnerable people by employers," he said.