Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the information he has provided to me on my concerns in this area. I am satisfied with the rationale provided and I will not be proceeding with the amendment. However, on the section, I would like to take the opportunity to highlight another issue that has already been raised with the Minister by the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland, MRCI, regarding joint inspections of workplaces that have been carried out in recent years between the National Employment Rights Authority, NERA, and the Garda National Immigration Bureau, GNIB. In these circumstances, it is perceived that GNIB leads the inspection by first asking workers for proof of immigration status. In such cases, migrants have reported to the MRCI that the situation becomes an investigation of immigration infringements rather than of exploitative practices in the workplace. If migrant workers are undocumented, they can be assisted in regularising their situation through mechanisms provided for under the Immigration Act and with the assistance of organisations such as the MRCI.

If the point of inspections is to uncover potential exploitative practices, I wonder why NERA is not doing the inspections first and foremost and then referring any undocumented workers to organisations such as the GNIB, if appropriate. I have a real concern that joint inspections by these agencies undermine NERA's efforts to investigate exploitation and build relationships with migrant workers in ensuring compliance.