Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, mrci, promoting empowerment and inclusion of migrant workers in ireland

Bridging Visa Campaign

Over a three-year period, the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), along with faith groups and immigrant organisations, actively campaigned for the introduction of an ongoing mechanism to allow migrant workers in Ireland who have found themselves undocumented through no fault of their own to regularise their legal status. This was commonly referred to as the ‘Bridging Visa’. It was implemented by the State as the time-bound Undocumented Workers Scheme in 2009. MRCI continues to highlight the need for the Undocumented Workers Scheme to be continued by the State, on a case-by-case basis. The scheme should bee permanently embedded in the immigration system, to regularise those who become undocumented for reasons beyond their control within the current immigration system.

Campaign History

Casework
Between 2005 and 2006, MRCI, Drop in Centre found that one in every four migrant workers seeking assistance regarding work permit problems were undocumented by the time they came to the MRCI for assistance. Many people were becoming undocumented for reasons beyond their control, including exploitation or deception by an employer, or sudden redundancy.

Research
MRCI began research into irregular migration exploring how people were becoming undocumented in Ireland.

Bridging Visa Campaign Group
In March 2007, MRCI called a meeting of undocumented workers. Fifty undocumented people from across the country attended. A core group of activists formed.

Bridging Campaign Group Leaflet
The new Bridging Campaign group, set out its goal of getting the Minister for Justice to grant a ‘permission to remain’ to those who became undocumented for reasons beyond their control, so that they could “bridge” their way back into the system. Click here to see BV Campaign Leaflet

Campaign Launch
The campaign was launched on Wednesday, 7 November 2007, to highlight the issue of undocumented workers in Ireland who had lost their legal status through no fault of their own.

Telling their Story: Digital Storytelling
The Campaign group & MRCI devised a Digital storytelling project with FOMACS, the Forum on Migration and Communications where several members of the group produced their own personal stories to highlight the issue. This was launched in December 2007 along with Life in the Shadows report.

Zaman's Story

'My father called me into the kitchen. He told me come here son you should learn to make your own food...'

Lyubov's Story

'When I came to the capital city without any support from anybody, without any friends, without any English, for two long months I was without any job...'

Abdel's Story

'The day I came to Ireland, I though my dream was coming true, but life is not always as good as you imagine...'

Media Engagement and Politicisation
Part of MRCI’s work is to develop leadership through political activism and to engage participants through a range of media and diverse fora. Members of the campaign group spoke to local and national radio, journalists and reporters to highlight the issues of undocumented people in Ireland.

Building Alliances
As the campaign continued, alliances were built with other groups including the faith community, business organisations and trade unions. Letters were written to the Minister for Justice in support of the campaign. ICTU raised the issue and pushed it within social partnership talks. See Chamber Ireland Press Release and Ireland's Catholic Church Press Release

Take Action!
Migrant workers and members of the general public wrote to the Minister expressing their support for the campaign. See BV Sample Letter

Launch of Report
In December 2007, the former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, launched MRCI's Life in the Shadows report on undocumented workers. This event raised the issue in the national media.

Securing Agreement
In early 2008 MRCI met with the Minister for Justice at the time, Brian Lenihan T.D. At this meeting it was agreed to propose a scheme incorporating the elements of the Bridging Visa, for those who lost their legal status through no fault of their own. Interim measures were put in place by his department to begin to regularise workers in this situation.

Ad-hoc Arrangement
Through this mechanism MRCI has been able to assist over 400 individuals to find a way back into the system and get on with their lives and contribute fully to Irish society.

Undocumented Workers Scheme (UWS) 2009
On 1st October 2009, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform introduced the Undocumented Workers Scheme 2009, or ‘Bridging Visa’, as it was commonly known. This scheme was open for three months until the end of 2009.

Campaign History

Media Coverage on Bridging Visa Campaign

Useful Links

Resources