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Migrant Rights Centre Ireland 55 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1 Tel: (01) 889 7570 Fax: (01) 889 7579 Email: info@mrci.ie
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Launch of MRCI political pamphlet, Hidden Messages: Overt Agendas, written by Niall Crowley (9 March 2010)

"Political Rhetoric on Migrants Doesn’t Match Actions"

Today the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) is launching a pamphlet that critiques Ireland’s political leadership on migration, and its commitment to equality in the current recession.

The political pamphlet, Hidden Messages: Overt Agendas, was written by Niall Crowley, equality expert and former CEO of the Equality Authority. It compares the messages political leaders have been sending out regarding migrant workers, with the policy decisions that they have made. The findings highlight a significant gap between what politicians say about migrant workers, and the actions that they take.

The pamphlet also highlights recommendations from the OECD and the UN for a new deal for migrants, which stand in stark contrast to the current response to migration in Ireland. It concludes by setting out new directions for policy that would reflect a political commitment to equality and justice, and would better serve both migrant workers and the task of economic recovery.

“All the international evidence highlights that migrant workers tend to be particularly badly hit in an economic recession,” according to Mr Crowley. “This is the experience of migrant workers in Ireland at this time. To make matters worse, in Ireland we have a political leadership on migration where the positive rhetoric of politicians is contradicted by their actions, where new policy has undermined equality for migrant workers and diminished their potential to contribute to economic recovery, and where international best practice is blatantly ignored. This does not bode well for migrants and their families, just as it does not bode well for Irish society and the Irish economy.”

Siobhán O’Donoghue, Director of MRCI, says, “On the one hand political leaders have broadly acknowledged the contribution of migrant workers, while on the other they oversee policy developments that are extremely harsh and have a damaging impact on migrant workers and their families. In addition, commitments are not followed through on that would give effect to their positive public statements’.

Ms O’Donoghue continued, “We hope this pamphlet will stimulate much-needed discussion on the importance of political leadership and action that supports equality for migrant workers.”

Click here to download a pdf of Hidden Messages: Overt Agendas

Click here for full press release

 

Undocumented Workers Scheme (1 Oct 09)

In October the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) published guidelines and an application form for some undocumented workers.  See the link below for details.  The MRCI campaigned several years for the introduction of this scheme which was known as the Bridging Visa. Closing date for applications is 31 December 2009.   

Click for INIS Undocumented Worker Guidelines/Application Form

MRCI FAQs on Application for undocumented workers (English)

MRCI Information points for Applications:

English

Arabic

Bengali

Chinese

Russian

Thai

Urdu

Portuguese

Domestic Workers Protest at South African Embassy (4 Oct. 09)

Members of the Domestic Workers Action Group gathered today in front of the South African Embassy in Dublin to protest the decision of the Embassy and Ambassador Pricilla Jana to invoke diplomatic immunity in an employment rights complaint taken against her by a domestic worker. 

The employment rights complaint was brought by Ms. Valentyna Khristonsen, a Ukrainian national, who was employed between February 2006 and August 2008 as a domestic worker in the private residence of Ambassador Jana in Dublin.  Ms. Khristonsen, who is being represented by the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI), claims that her employment rights were violated and lodged formal complaints against Ambassador Jana with the Labour Relations Commission, including breaches of the Unfair Dismissals Act, the Payment of Wages Act, and the Organisation of Working Time Act.  

“It is our view that Valentyna deserves the right to a hearing and due process regarding her grievance,” says Ann Guan of the Domestic Workers Action Group. “It is shameful and unfair that the ambassador is claiming diplomatic immunity and denying her this basic right. We will be calling on Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, TD, to intervene and urge the South African delegation to waive diplomatic immunity so that Valentyna can have the right to a fair hearing.”

See full press release

 

New INIS & DETE Guidelines Regarding Changes to nonEEA Workers (1 Sep 09The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) has issued some initial guidelines regarding the changes announced Friday, 28 August 2009, for nonEEA workers.  The changes:

• double the length of time, from three to six months that a migrant worker has to seek alternative employment and get a new work permit (This applies to those with less than five years in the work permit system.)
• non-EEA migrant workers who have held permit for five years or more will be granted a new permission to live and work without the need to apply for another work permit.

(See articles below for details and link to INIS and DETE websites) 

Click for New INIS Guidelines

Click for New DETE Guidelines

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING THE LABOUR MARKET TEST and REDUNDANCY: 

For non-EEA Work Permit holders who have been made redundant and still need a work permit because they do not yet qualify for the five year permission FÁS/EURES and newspaper advertisements (the Labour Market Needs Tests) are NOT required for new Work Permit applications when the work permit application is made and paid for by the employee and not the employer. 

This means:

-On page 1 of the work permit application form, in response to the question ‘Who is the applicant?’, the EMPLOYEE box must be ticked.

-On page 5 (Part Four), payment details must be completed by the EMPLOYEE

This policy is based on Section 10 of the Employment Permit Act 2006.

If you have any queries regarding this you can contact the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland Email: info@mrci.ie / Tel: 01-8897570. 

*Disclaimer: These materials have been prepared by the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) for information purposes only with no guarantee as to accuracy or applicability to a particular set of circumstances. The materials are not intended and should not be considered to be legal advice. The information given may change from time-to-time and may be out of date. The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland disclaims any legal responsibility for the content or the accuracy of the information provided. 

Printable version click here

VICTORY for migrant workers' campaign (28 Aug 09)

The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland is celebrating a significant victory regarding the announcement today by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern, TD, together with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, TD, to change the rules regarding non-EEA migrant workers who have been made redundant.

The changes announced will double the length of time, from three to six months that a migrant worker has to seek alternative employment. In addition, non-EEA migrant workers who have lived and worked in Ireland for five years under the work permit system will be granted a new permission to live and work without the need to apply for another work permit.

"This victory is as a result of a hard fought campaign to change the unjust and cruel policies that were introduced by the government back in June. This campaign was driven by migrant workers themselves together with the support of trade unions, employer bodies, the faith community and other immigrant organisations," says Bill Abom, Deputy Director of the MRCI. "While there are still several issues and barriers to overcome both Minister Ahern and the Tánaiste have heard the collective voice of migrant workers and have done the right thing."

Mr. Abom says, "These changes will make a significant difference in the lives of thousands of non-EEA migrant workers who have committed themselves to Ireland, but whose lives have been hanging in the balance. These changes give migrant workers greater equality and greater opportunity to support their families and to contribute to Irish society."

Click here for Press Announcement from Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (28 Aug 2009).

 

Seminar: Strategies for Tackling Forced Labour

Date: 1st October 2009, from 9.30am-2.00pm

Venue: Gresham Hotel, 23 Upr. O'Connell St, Dublin 1

MRCI, in conjunction with ICTU and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Dept. of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is holding a seminar on Strategies for Tackling Forced Labour. Roger Plant, Head of the ILO’s Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour, will give the Keynote Address, looking at Global Perspectives on Forced Labour.

For more details download the seminar programme

To register download the registration form and return by Wed 23rd Sept.

 

Community work in a Changing Ireland - Certificate in Community Work for Migrants

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland is coordinating a certificate in community work with the National University of Ireland Maynooth which is aimed at migrants: Community Work in a Changing Ireland, a certificate awarded at Level 8 (special purpose) on the National Qualifications of Ireland framework. The course is for migrant workers interested and/or active in justice and rights for migrant workers and their families. It is also open to people from an immigrant background who are currently employed in community work roles, in for example Area Based Partnerships, Community Development Projects or other local groups. The course will be organised over a short intensive time period from September end to January 2010 and will be organised mainly in Dublin (and will include sessions in NUI Maynooth). It will provide a solid basis for participants to develop a progression pathway on to professional training opportunities in the area of youth and community work. To find out more and to apply for a place on the course, please download the form below and send to Helen in MRCI by Friday 21st of August. Alternatively you can contact Helen on 01 8897105 / helen@mrci.ie

Click hereto download course application form.

Resource worker for Coordination of Community Work Course

MRCI is seeking applicants for a fixed term contract to resource the coordination of a community work course for migrant workers - click here for more

 

 

Sharing good community work practice:

Launch of 'Tools for Social Change' resource guide

In association with the Centre for Applied Social Studies, NUI Maynooth and the Community Workers Cooperative, MRCI has developed a resource guide for community work with migrant workers and their families. The aim of ‘Tools for Social Change’ is to illustrate a community work approach to working with migrant workers and their families, in a practical and engaging manner that both provides theory and supports the development of good community work practice. The guide is intended to be an active tool to support community workers in their work, and contains a mixture of social analysis and useful information in the form of support sheets and case studies from MRCI and around the country. Important stages and developments in adopting a community work approach and key learning points are outlined throughout.

The resource guide is influenced by a set of core values and principles informing community work (as set out in the recent publication ‘Towards Standards for Quality Community Work – An All Ireland Statement of Values, Principles and Work Standards’ – see www.cwc.ie).  MRCI hopes it will be a useful contribution to the development of good community work practice in Ireland, particularly in relation to working with migrant workers and their families.

Click here to download the resource guide

Click here to download order form and order copies

 

Re-launch of Election Anti-Racism Political Protocol

The Irish Coordination of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) is actively working to ensure that the 2009 elections (EU, local and bi-elections) are conducted in a manner that does not perpetuate or incite racism. To support this effort, on 14th May ENAR Ireland re-launched the Anti-Racism Political Protocol, which was first developed in 2001 by NCCRI and signed by all the political parties active at that time. 

We are now asking individual candidates to sign it as a public declaration of their own party's support for the protocol.  We believe that in taking this action, candidates will be reminded of the necessity to uphold the commitment made by their political parties.  ENAR Ireland is urging you to encourage the candidates to sign the Protocol and return a copy to: ENAR Ireland, c/o Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, 55 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1, in order to keep us informed and to ensure that as many candidates as possible  live up to the spirit of the declaration.

Clickhereto download a copy of the protocol

 

MRCI Conference on ensuring fair working conditions for migrant workers in a changing labour market

On 26th March, MRCI held a conference to examine the following theme: "FAIR PLAY:  Are fair and decent working conditions for migrant workers possible in a changing labour market?”  The conference brought together key national and international stakeholders and experts to consider this core question of whether fair employment standards for migrant workers are possible, as well as to look at ways of ensuring the rights of migrant workers are protected in the changing economy.

Paul Mason, BBC Newsnight's Economics Editor, situated the day’s discussion in a global context, with a keynote address that looked at the history of global labour and migration and the idea of a global labour movement.  In the afternoon, Janice Fine of the School of Management and Labour Relations at Rutgers University in the U.S. gave a keynote address on the topic of ‘Regoverning the Market from the Bottom-Up’. Both presentations were followed by inputs from organisations representing different interests, including the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, SIPTU, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, the National Employment Rights Authority, as well as the Ethical Trade Initiative in the UK.  There were also two ‘Questions and Answers’ sessions which gave audience members the opportunity to engage in lively debates on the issues discussed. These were chaired by Anastacia Crickley, MRCI Board member, and Cathal Mac Coille of RTE’s ‘Morning Ireland’.

To download conference brochure clickhere

A summary report of key recommendations coming out of the conference will be available on this website in the coming weeks.

 

Migrants Forum

The Migrants Forum is held on a Sunday, approximately every 6 weeks, from 2.00-5.00pm in the main hall in the Teachers Club, 36 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1.

The date for the next Forum will be posted here soon. Contact info@mrci.ie for more information.

 

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For more updates on policy developments, changes in immigration procedures & practices, campaigns and events, click below for our latest e-bulletin.

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