Forced Labour & Trafficking

Protections for Migrant Fishermen Introduced

MRCI welcomes new scheme for undocumented fishermen

The Atypical Working Scheme for Fishermen will allow the regularisation of undocumented fishermen, was brought in as a result of consultations following a Guardian investigation into chronic exploitation and trafficking of migrant workers in the Irish fishing industry. Click here for background information. Allowing undocumented workers to become documented is the best way to fight exploitation, including trafficking. It is critical that enforcement of fishermen’s rights is now prioritised. Inspection and monitoring are vital to ensure exploitation and human trafficking are fully eradicated. MRCI will be monitoring the rollout of the scheme and reaching out to fishermen all over the country to assist them in applying.

Landmark High Court judgment condemns Garda failure to assist trafficked woman

High Court finds serious failures in Garda investigation of trafficking for forced labour in cannabis growhouse

Today (Wednesday 15 April 2015) the High Court ruled that Gardaí failed to identify a victim of human trafficking, resulting in the imprisonment of a trafficked woman in Mountjoy for two and a half years. Click to read more...

SOLIDAR Silver Rose Award 2013

Forced labour activist Mohammed Younis and MRCI have been awarded the SOLIDAR Silver Rose Award 2013, recognising our social justice work across Europe. Mohammed said “I’m very honored to receive this award and I’m so privileged to be part of the ongoing collective struggle for rights and social justice." A special thanks to PICUM CCME and to SOLIDAR, and a very special thanks to all in the Forced Labour Action Group for making this happen.

The Campaign to Criminalise Forced Labour

Campaigners celebrate with TDs

Due to the tireless efforts of the Forced Labour Action Group (FLAG), a group made up of migrant activists and our many allies, we secured a change in the law - a crucial amendment to the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 which now allows for forced labour to be prosecuted in Ireland.

This campaign was set up to respond to the need to tackle the chronic abuse and exploitation of workers that MRCI was witnessing. Such cases involve people working every day for long hours for little or no pay, being threatened by their employers, their passports being withheld, living in virtual imprisonment and in fear. FLAG developed a briefing paper with the Irish Congress for Trade Unions (ICTU) on the problem and urgently-needed solutions. We presented this paper to policy makers and legislators. We performed street theatre, staged protests and undertook media work. We also held solidarity meetings with the Trade Union Movement and met with the International Labour Organisation, Irish governmental officials and politicians to inform and lobby for the necessary changes. Our efforts were rewarded when the law criminalising forced labour was passed unanimously by the Dáil on June 28th 2013.

Watch workers' campaign journey here:

Fauziah Shaari

I came to Ireland from Malaysia in 2009. I worked as a domestic worker caring for 4 children in a private home. I worked 14 hours per day, seven days a week for less than one euro an hour. My employer did not update my visa and I became undocumented. My movements were restricted and I lost control over my own life. I was not protected by Irish law. I wanted to ensure what happened to me did not happen to others, so I became a leader of the Forced Labour Action Group to campaign for a law against forced labour in Ireland. We have power when we take action together. We shared our stories, met with politicians, talked to the media, protested and explained about the impact of forced labour on victims. Through all our efforts we have won. We can stand proud today.

Mohammed Younis

I came to Ireland to work as a tandoori chef in 2002 on a work permit. I worked long hours, 7 days a week for very low wages. For the first few years I earned 52 cents an hour. My employer failed to renew my work permit and I became undocumented in Ireland. I did not know anyone and I speak very little English. I was treated like a slave by my employer for 7 years. I found out about my rights and I took my employer to court. I am still fighting this as I am owed €92,000 which was awarded to me by the Labour Court. I want to get justice for what happened to me but I want to ensure this does not happen to other workers. We are fighting for undocumented workers to be able to seek their rights through the labour courts and for a law against forced labour. We have organized public events and highlighted these problems with the trade union, politicians and the media to call for a law against modern day slavery.

Tina Dio

I came to Ireland when I was 17 to work as a domestic worker and to study. I was badly exploited in that I was not paid a wage, I worked every day and I was not given any time off including holidays. For 3 years I lived as a prisoner. I was not allowed to go out on my own, stay in touch with my family, make friends or pursue my studies. I lived in fear of my employer. I was helped by a caller to the house where I was working who put me in touch with MRCI. They helped me build up my life again. I am now studying and working in Ireland. I joined with other workers through FLAG to fight for rights. We are delighted that the government has heard our voices and has decided to criminalise forced labour. I hope this achievement will encourage others not to be afraid to speak out and look for their rights.

Waseem Yousaf

I am an active member of the FLAG. I volunteer with this group as I cannot stand by and watch injustice happen. I support workers to take action together as we are strong when we walk together and fight for rights. We have worked together and supported one another to push for the law against modern-day slavery to be introduced.

I speak out against this injustice as I have seen the impact of this cruelty on many migrant workers. I want to see workers like Mohammed Younis get justice. We are also lobbying for rights for all workers, regardless of legal status, to take their case to the employment courts when their employment rights are violated. We believe that employers who exploit should not be allowed to walk free. They should pay up and be held to account. I believe all us workers should stand together to ensure that labour standards are upheld for everyone; in this way, we can tackle exploitation in the labour market.

RACE in Europe: fighting trafficking for criminal exploitation

Children and adults are trafficked across Europe for forced criminal activities and forced begging. Traffickers force them to beg in towns and cities and they are forced to commit crimes such as pickpocketing, ATM theft, metal theft and cannabis cultivation.Those trafficked are often treated as criminals. Many end up being prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned for crimes they have been forced to commit, while their traffickers enjoy impunity. In Ireland we are currently seeing a trend of people being trafficked for cannabis cultivation. MRCI are conducting research on this at the moment which will be available shortly.

The RACE in Europe project, funded by the European Commission and led by Anti-Slavery International in conjunction with MRCI, EXPAT UK,  La Strada Czech Republic, Multicultural Centre Prague, Police Academy of the Netherlands and Vietnamese Mental Health Services to improve knowledge about the nature and scale of trafficking of children and adults for forced criminal exploitation and forced begging.

Trade unions speak out against forced labour and trafficking

MRCI and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), together with the Trade Union Federation of Berlin-Brandenburg and victims of slavery in Ireland, held a high-level meeting to discuss the increasing problem of forced labour and trafficking in Irish society. ICTU and affiliates will highlight and publicly oppose forced labour, push for  the rights of undocumented workers to be realised in the reform of employment bodies, and assess how best they can support victims of forced labour, who often require financial help as well as other supports.

This event was part of a European Commission-funded project, FINE TUNE, which seeks to embed responses to labour trafficking across a range of civil society and statutory organisations. This project is being led by the International Trade Union Confederation in collaboration with MRCI,  Antislavery International, CCME, Caritas, PAM, La Strada, AIDRom, LEFOE & UGT.