Worker exploitation sparks EU reform

A case involving an Irish company where Polish workers at a €5bn nuclear plant construction site were exploited has inspired a change in EU legislation.

Conditions at the site where a third of the 3,400 workers were employed by temporary worker agencies from several countries, including Ireland, were described as “an example of modern slavery”, by French Socialist MEP Pervenche Berès after visiting the site.

Those employed by Irish based Atlanco were paid through a sister company in Cyprus and given an Irish employment contract, which would mean their social security payments would be paid to Ireland.