Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 12, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following:

“Report on right to unionise

3. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas outlining measures taken to ensure that workers holding both regular and seasonal permits have a right to organise and to collective bargaining in their respective sectors.”.

In 2021, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission published its report, Monitoring Decent Work in Ireland, which highlighted the prevalence of discrimination and inequity in the employment sector. The report found that workers from religious and ethnic minorities experienced much higher levels of discrimination, higher pay inequalities, poorer working conditions, lower trade union or staff association membership, and more instances of bullying and exploitation within the workplace. Therefore, we cannot ignore the power dynamic that exists between an employer and permit holders whom they employ. Given this dynamic, the potential for exploitation is much more pronounced and, too often, workers are disillusioned by the conditions here, having been misled and misinformed. Without oversight to ensure that permit holders have the right to organise and collectively bargain in their respective sectors, we leave many non-national permit workers in vulnerable positions and potentially create a cycle of exploitation.