Union's fears over influx of migrants

Migrants from Romania and Bulgaria should not be allowed to enter Ireland freely, the country’s largest union warned today.

Amid fears of exploitation, Siptu president Jack O’Connor said he wanted protective measures in place before workers from the eastern European states were given unrestricted access.

But he dismissed claims there were fears that people from the two accession countries would flood Ireland.

“I don’t know that there are any grounds for believing there are going to be a flood of workers from these countries,” the Siptu chief said.

Mr O’Connor said traditionally migrants from Bulgaria and Romania move to southern European, particularly Greece and Italy.

He said following a series of exposés on worker exploitation in the last two years measures had to be introduced to protect all newcomers to the state. And he claimed those from Bulgaria and Romania would be particularly vulnerable from unscrupulous employers.

Under the latest social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, 41 measures were agreed to improve labour regulations in Ireland. Mr O’Connor said they should be in place by the end of 2007.

Among them is a plan to revamp the Labour Inspectorate multiplying the number of officers charged with checking on businesses and moves to restrict displacement and outsourcing of workers.

Mr O’Connor said he was confident an open border status would work if all these measures were in place.

“We believe in solidarity. Our movement is based on the principle of solidarity, and its based on the principle of people’s right to be treated with dignity and respect when they work in Ireland regardless of what country they come from,” he said.

“But there is no solidarity in exploitation.”

Mr O’Connor said unless the improved labour laws were in place migrants would continue to fall prey to a small number of unscrupulous employers.