Siptu concern about abuse of migrant workers

The abuse of migrant workers is hindering Ireland's progress towards a multi-cultural society, the State's largest trade union…

The abuse of migrant workers is hindering Ireland's progress towards a multi-cultural society, the State's largest trade union Siptu said today.

Launching a leaflet on migrant workers rights, Siptu's anti-racism group co-ordinator, Mr Anton McCabe, said there is no tradition of union organisation in the places where many migrant workers find employment.

"The abuse of such workers by greedy employers - who take advantage of the fact that there are not enough Labour Inspectors to investigate reported cases of exploitation - threatens our ability to move to a multicultural society," Mr Mc Cabe said.

As workplaces become more culturally diverse employing workers from all over the world, it influences the meaning of being Irish, he continued.

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"Integrating people from diverse cultural backgrounds into the workplace and into society is a challenge which requires changing attitudes, and new skills," he said.

New initiatives in human resource management in areas such as education and training are needed to manage the change, he insisted.

Siptu in conjunction with the social services information agency, Chomhairle, launched a leaflet advising migrant workers on where they can obtain details of their employment rights.

It will be distributed to Citizens Information Centres and SIPTU branch offices.