Non-EU nationals working on fishing vessels illegally

AT LEAST 1,000 non-EU nationals are working on Irish fishing vessels without work permits, the Irish Transport Federation has said.

The Department of Enterprise, has not issued any permits to non- EU seafarers to work on Ireland’s 2,000-strong fishing fleet in the last four years and has not received any applications for such permits.

However, according to the federation, which is affiliated to Siptu, many workers from outside the EU are employed on Irish fishing vessels illegally. Some have also been badly treated.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0928/1224279828690.html

Investigation finds migrant workers face discrimination

A formal investigation into the role of the recruitment sector in the employment of migrant workers in Northern Ireland has found non-nationals are being discriminated against.

Those findings include:

•Participants encountered barriers to equality of opportunity for those using the recruitment sector.
•Irregularity of work.
•Large amounts of money being paid in their native countries to find work which was not as expected.
•Poor employment practices.
•Securing predominantly low paid work.
•Difficulties in having qualifications gained outside the UK recognised by employers.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/business-news/investigation-finds-migrant-workers-face-discrimination-14842879.html#ixzz0rJJB2pBw

Migrants' group calls for reform of work permit system

The campaign, which is being launched today in Dublin, is calling for a change in the regulations governing the approximately 25,000 migrant workers currently in the Employment Permit System.

As the system currently operates, these workers are only allowed to work for the employer designated on their permit. They are not allowed to freely change employer.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/migrants-group-calls-for-reform-of-work-permit-system-117115.html#ixzz0l03XAnA8

Revenue accused of 'treason' in tender row

THE Revenue Commissioners have been accused of "economic treason" for spending €225,000 on having tax forms printed in Spain.

The printing contract was previously held by an Irish company, which is now expected to have to lay off four of its 50 staff as a result.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/revenue-accused-of-treason-in-tender-row-2135276.html

Tallaght hospital outsources typing to Far East

THE hospital at the centre of the scandal over X-ray rechecks and unread GP letters is outsourcing basic typing work to the Far East, it emerged yesterday.

Letters sent by some consultants at Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, to GPs may be typed in the Far East rather than by an internal secretary.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/hospital-in-xray-mess-outsources-typing-to-far-east-2134300.html

Immigrants on the dole

One in three people signing on last month was an immigrant worker.

An extra 3,876 foreigners joined the live register in January compared with 9,465 Irish people, the new Central Statistics Office figures show.

Some 18.6pc of the 437,000 on the live register are now non-Irish nationals, a total of 81,395, though they comprise just 14.7pc of the workforce.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/downturn-hits-foreign-workers-hardest-2051114.html

49% in NI believe migrants taking jobs

Almost half of people in Northern Ireland think migrant workers take jobs away from locals, it was revealed today.

Nearly a third think they came simply to receive benefits, the survey for the Department of Employment and Learning said. Most felt they were putting a strain on services.

The report said attitudes may have hardened with tougher labour market conditions.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1221/breaking69.htm

Dell given €55m to aid transfer to Poland

THE decision yesterday by the EU Commission to give €55 million to Dell to assist the US computer giant transfer its Limerick manufacturing operation to Lodz in Poland sparked anger among the Dell workers who will lose their jobs by the end of the year.
More than 1,600 have already been let go at the doomed Limerick plant.

Another 400 will be left go by the end of January next.

Denis Ryan, chairman of the Dell workers’ committee, said: "This is a slap in the face from the EU to us.

They got taxpayers’ money to come to Ireland and when that runs out they pop on to Poland.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/dell-given-55m-to-aid-transfer-to-poland-101683.html#ixzz0S24z54Zi

Foreign names 'a hindrance to job-hunters'

Job-hunters with foreign names are twice as likely to be blackballed by potential employers than obviously Irish candidates, groundbreaking new research revealed today.

A study – the first of its kind in Ireland – showed employers were less inclined to give interviews to people from ethnic minorities even if they are as qualified as Irish candidates.

The joint report by think-tank the ESRI and the Equality Authority also found high-levels of discrimination here compared with other countries.Richard Fallon, Equality Authority’s acting chief, warned: “It does prove that a very old ghost of discrimination still haunts us.

“Moreover you’re twice as likely to encounter this spectre with a non-Irish surname than with an identifiably Irish one, that’s even with Irish citizenship and with Irish qualifications.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/foreign-names-a-hindrance-to-jobhunters-409700.html

Polish journalist predicts race hate

Dublin-based Polish journalist Izabela Chudzicka said she predicts racist trouble in the country in the coming months.

I think there is a big problem with racism that will accelerate right now because of the job situation," said Izabela.

"A few years ago we talked about, 'Are the foreigners taking jobs from Irish people?' when there was no problem with it whatsoever. Imagine what will happen now when there is actually a problem with jobs."

"I had to straightaway get to know the culture, get to know the Irish what they are like," she said. "Now what I find, since 2004/2005 people started coming over, they lived with the Polish, worked with the Polish, bought the food in the Polish shop, got the satellite TV from Poland, they know nothing about this country".

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/polish-worker-predicts-race-hate-1632053.html

Irish cleaners at EU charity 'sacked and replaced' by immigrants

Officials from the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions have been called in to mediate a dispute between a company contracted to clean its Dublin offices and six Irish cleaning ladies who claim they have been sacked and replaced by a group of Lithuanian workers.

The women had been cleaning the offices of the European Foundation, based in Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, for between nine and 18 years under various sub-contractors.

The six claim that on Friday 17 September a senior AFM staff member informed them they no longer worked for the company. Four Lithuanian nationals took up their positions the following week.

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2008/oct/19/cleaners-at-dublin-eu-charity-sacked-and-replaced/