Protecting immigrants - Unacceptable exploitation

CONSIDERING the number of immigrants who have arrived in Ireland in recent years, it would be foolish to imagine that some of them have not been abused by ruthless employers or employment agencies.

Today Stephen Rogers reports on some of the unacceptable practices of a minority of employment agencies.

He describes how some immigrants are “used like tools” and discarded when they are no longer required.

It has always been a feature of immigration that there is a period of insecurity while a worker becomes established in a new country but that is no reason to condone or accept exploitation of the weak and vulnerable.

The Irish, of all nations, should have an understanding of how painful immigration can be and how isolated workers might feel in a foreign country.

Each of us should do all we can to ensure that people who come to Ireland looking for work are afforded the same protection and welcome we would expect in a foreign country.