Written answers

Thursday, 23 March 2006

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Employment Rights

5:00 pm

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position in regard to the investigation being carried out by his Department into reports highlighted in the media of the treatment and subsequent dismissal of 14 female mushroom pickers from Latvia and Lithuania employed in County Cavan, who claimed that they had been required to work for an average of €250 per week for a working week of between 80 and 100 hours and had also been asked to work on Christmas Day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11269/06]

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's labour inspectorate is responsible for monitoring the employment conditions for all categories of workers in Ireland, including immigrant workers. As statutory employment rights and protections apply to immigrant workers in the same way that they apply to native Irish workers, the inspectorate operates without any regard to worker nationality.

Inspectors pursue allegations of worker mistreatment. If evidence of non-compliance with employment rights legislation is found, the inspectorate seeks redress for the individuals concerned and, if appropriate, a prosecution is initiated. Employment regulation orders govern the wages and employment conditions of workers who are employed in the mushroom industry, unless they are covered by the terms of a registered employment agreement in line with to the provisions of the Industrial Relations Acts 1946 to 2004.

The inspectorate has been in contact with the individuals who carried out work at the premises over a number of months and several statements have been recorded. The inspectorate is clarifying the nature of the employer-employee relationship that may exist between the owner or operator of the facility and the individuals in question. The complex issues which arise in this case may be compounded to some extent because the current operator may not be resident in the State. The inspectorate is actively pursuing the case and will focus on trying to secure appropriate redress for the people concerned after the facts have been satisfactorily established.

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