The Government was determined to ensure, in talks on a new national partnership agreement, that immigrant workers enjoyed the same treatment as their Irish-born counterparts, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said during a visit to the Latvian capital, Riga, yesterday.
Speaking at a conference on migration issues, he pointed out that, on May 1st, 2004, Ireland opened its labour market to all of the 10 new member states of the EU, including Latvia, adding: "We were one of only three countries to do so." He continued: "Ireland now plays host to significant numbers of people from the new member states, notably Latvia, Poland and Lithuania. Other immigrants come to Ireland from other parts of the world."
The Minister added: "Latvian workers in Ireland enjoy full employment rights on a par with Irish workers, and the national minimum wage applies to workers from overseas just as it applies to Irish workers.
"The Irish Government is determined to ensure that all workers in Ireland, regardless of their national origins, will continue to enjoy the same high employment standards that have become the norm in Ireland.
"Talks on a new national partnership agreement are expected to get under way in Ireland shortly, and the protection of employment rights will figure prominently in discussions between the Government, employer representatives, unions, farming organisations and civil society."