Foreign students coming to Ireland are at severe risk of exploitation because of gaps in the new Work Permit scheme unveiled earlier this week, Ictu claimed today.
The system, effective from next month, makes no provision for students from outside the EU, many of whom come here to learn English but find themselves effectively in bonded labour, Esther Lynch, Congress policy officer said.
Ms Lynch expressed bemusement that the Government omitted students from the Work Permit scheme even though it agreed to do so in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016.
In an address to be given tomorrow to a conference hosted by the Law Society 'New Rules for the New Irish', she said the Work Permit system was incomplete.
"That leaves a huge, gaping hole in the provisions. Again, Government committed to deal with this in Towards 2016 and we note they restated that commitment this week.
"But why introduce a partially completed structure, as opposed to a coherent whole? Did electoral considerations play their part, the need to be seen to do something on the issue?"
It is understood, however, that the Department of Enterprise has given Congress assurances that it will deal with the issue in the coming weeks.
A spokeswoman for the Department said discussions with interested parties in relation to permits for students are ongoing.
There are fears that English language schools are operating as de facto employment agencies.
Many students pay thousands to come to Ireland to learn English but end up working around 20 hours a week to pay back their travel costs. And there are concerns that as no single department regulates students' working rights.