Brendan Ryan (Labour)

This morning on the radio the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment spoke about labour inspectors who are supposed to enforce the rights of migrant workers. After much humming and hawing he conceded that they only carry out inspections after a complaint has been made. Let us remember about whom we are speaking. We speak about people who are here on temporary work visas in the gift of their employers. A person can be let go and sent home if his or her employer is unhappy.

These people do not speak English and in many cases do not speak any European language that somebody in their vicinity might speak. They often live in isolation. It is left to them to make a complaint about being badly treated before the industrial inspectorate takes action. This hardly suggests a great enthusiasm for protecting the rights of these people. It suggests a certain level of indifference. A member of SIPTU made the point on a few occasions that more people are employed to look after dog licences than after the rights of migrant workers. We will create enormous problems for the future if we do not protect the rights of migrant workers from the beginning.

Some of these problems extend to migrant workers who come from other EU countries. Due to changes in social welfare legislation, if they are not here for a reasonable period of time their employer can offer them the option of leaving their job for a life of destitution, as they would not be entitled to anything, or staying in the job and putting up with abuse. These people will be abused if we do not have a vigorous industrial inspectorate.

In the context of abuse, I refer to a report this morning about a very well known hotel, one which claims international prestige, that is partly owned by a family which also has a great interest in the media here. The Labour Court has recommended pay increases of between 15% and 20% which will give a receptionist €350 per week after the increase and give somebody working in the kitchen €337 per week. This is a non-union hotel where the Labour Court decision, as of now, has not been accepted. The case may have to go to the Circuit Court. The issue of the rights of ordinary semi-skilled and poorly-skilled workers is not just one about migrant workers, rather it is about attitudes in Ireland. When a hotel, which can charge up to €1,000 per night for a suite, objects to paying its receptionist €350 per week, a fundamental moral question must be asked, particularly when those involved own media organs which give us lectures about right and wrong.