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Domestic Workers Support Group (DWSG)
The DWSG was initiated in 2004 by the MRCI to respond to growing concerns about the exploitation of migrant women employed as domestic workers in the private home in Ireland. These issues and concerns were initially brought to light in MRCI’s report, Private Homes: A Public Concern
The DWSG is made up of over one hundred migrant women employed in the private home, as carers or childminders who also have responsibility for cleaning and housekeeping.
The aim of the DWSG is to empower migrant domestic workers to have a voice and be active agents in decision making and policy arenas on the issues affecting the lives of domestic workers.
The vision of the DWSG group is to work for the human rights and equality of all migrant women employed in the private home.
The DWSG believes that migrant women employed in the private home should have:
- Opportunities to enhance and develop their skills, intellect and abilities in all aspects of life;
- Recognition, protection and a fair wage for the work they do;
- Freedom from racism and discrimination at work and in their private lives;
- Opportunities to make a contribution to society and to have this contribution valued and respected;
- Access to the full range of social protections and social services.
Some current projects:
Opening Doors – Migrant Domestic Workers Speak Through Art. – ‘Opening Doors’ is a textile and multi-media installation created by 45 members of the DWSG. It includes a quilt, entitled ‘Blurred Boundaries.’ The quilt was initiated to explore the complexities of domestic work and where the boundaries between work, leisure and relationships are blurred. This project was part of the group’s campaign to bring in better regulation of this sector of employment. Click here for more information.
Social Care Programme – Professionalising Domestic Work.
DWSG members have undertaken an accredited social care training programme with the support of FÁS for those employed as childminders and those caring for the elderly. These consisted of two, three-day Occupational First Aid and Paediatric First Aids courses. This was followed by a course in Child Development and Care Provision and Practice.
Code of Practice for Protecting Persons employed in other people’s homes
Together with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and SIPTU, the DWSG helped to develop a Code of Practice for domestic workers, that was agreed in Ireland’s National Partnership Agreement on Social and Economic Development - Towards 2016. The involvement of the DWSG represents a major achievement for the DWSG. The DWSG is now campaigning for this Code to be widely distributed. To view the Code of Practice click here
Establishing a Joint Labour Committee for Domestic Workers
In parallel with work on the Code of Practice, the DWSG is campaigning for the development of a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for domestic workers. More than a Code of Practice, a JLC would set out statutory protections needed for domestic workers including minimum pay and conditions.
Contact DWSG
If you would like more information about the DWSG please contact us:
Tel: 01-8897570
Email: bill@mrci.ie
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Agricultural Workers Association (AgWA)
The Agricultural Workers Association (AgWA) believes that all agricultural workers in Ireland deserve to be paid and treated fairly. All agricultural workers have a legal right to:
- Be paid the minimum wage
- Be paid for overtime work
- Extra pay for work on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
- Be paid annual holidays
- A safe workplace
- Free, protective clothing and equipment
AgWA does the following work to make this happen:
1. Give agricultural workers information on their rights and entitlements
2. Support agricultural workers to receive their full rights and entitlements
3. Work for laws that improve conditions for agricultural workers
4. Build a strong membership organisation for agricultural workers
Agriculture in Ireland
Agriculture in Ireland is big business and contributes approximately €5 billion per year (2006) to the Irish economy. To support the industry there are approximately 14,000 individuals employed as agricultural workers on farms, many of whom are migrant workers.
Many agricultural workers are not paid the legal minimum wage and other basic entitlements such as holiday pay, Sunday pay, overtime, are made to work excessive hours every week, and are often subjected to threats and verbal abuse by employers. Health and safety is a major concern in agriculture. Workers are often made to work in unsafe and dangerous conditions and around dangerous chemicals without proper information and protection.
AgWA officially began working in 2006 as the Mushroom Workers Support Group to respond to the exploitation of migrant women employed on mushroom farms, as highlighted in MRCI’s Harvesting Justice: Mushroom Workers Call for Change, November 2006.
Since then AgWA has helped to improve pay and conditions for hundreds of other agricultural workers. In 2007 alone AgWA assisted workers to get back €250,000 in owed wages.
AgWA Chairperson’s Message: Iryna Lapshyna, Ukraine
“I am part of AgWA because I would like to see that agricultural workers are treated fairly and have good working conditions. Treatment from employers needs to be better. Many people come to this country to work, but we are also human beings and more than just workers. It is very hard to be on your own, but as a group we can support each other and attract more attention to the problems that need to be solved. People are becoming less afraid to speak up and to stand up for themselves. People are starting to enforce their rights under Irish law. AgWA is a chance for us to stand up and try to change things for the better.”
Membership
Membership to AgWA is open to agricultural workers of all nationalities and backgrounds, and all others who wish to support the campaign for fair treatment for agricultural workers across Ireland. To support the work of AgWA, members are asked to make a voluntary annual contribution of €25 per year.
Contact AgWA
If you would like more information about AgWA, have a query about your rights, or would like to join and receive AgWA’s newsletter please contact us. All calls are confidential.
Tel: 083 357 5784
Email: virginija@mrci.ie
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Restaurant Workers Group (RWG)
The Restaurant Workers Group (RWG) was set up to respond to the exploitation and unfair treatment experienced by many migrant workers employed in restaurants in Ireland. The RWG has come together to change that situation and to work together to improve conditions.
Many restaurant workers are not being treated properly and experience problems such as:
- pay below the legal minimum hourly rate of pay in Ireland
- excessive working hours, sometimes more than 70 hours per week
- feeling disrespected, threatened and treated like slaves by employers
- unfair and illegal deductions being taken from workers’ pay
Many workers are intimidated and fear consequences from their employer if they complain, such being fired, deported or the work permit not being renewed. People also fear being left with the large debts from money they paid to get to Ireland or that there may be consequences for their families back in their home countries.
Despite all these problems the RWG feels that there are ways to start fighting back. There are options if workers have the right information and if workers come together to improve things. Currently there are over 100 members of the RWG. RWG also produces a bi-monthly RWG newsletter for to share experiences of workers and provide useful information on rights and entitlements.
Contact RWG
If you would like more information about the RWG or would like to join and receive RWG’s newsletter please contact us:
Tel: 083 3517956
Email: bill@mrci.ie
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