Promoting the rights of migrant workers conference

A major North-South conference on Promoting the Rights of Migrant Workers has highlighted key issues of concern for the migrant worker population in Ireland, including weaknesses in ensuring employment rights and the lack of consideration of the rights and interests of migrant workers within migration policy.

The conference took place on 23 May 2006 in the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre. 200 delegates made up of persons who have been working on racial equality issues in Trade Unions, the Community and Voluntary sector and beyond – including many migrant workers attended. The conference was a partnership between Animate -a strategic migrant worker equality project run under the auspices of Dungannon Council- the South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (S.T.E.P.), a rights based non-governmental organisation also based in Dungannon and the Dublin based National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI).

The conference was addressed by two London based academics. Professor Nigel Harris (University College London) looked at broad context of current immigration policy and the problems it can cause for migrant workers. Dr Sonia McKay (London Metropolitan University) drew attention to the key issue of weaknesses in the framework of employment rights which help create circumstances where migrant workers are vulnerable to exploitation and underpayment. She argued for an employment rights based approach to inward migration. This point and broader highlighting of breaches of employment rights were echoed by speakers from Trade Unions.

Tayra McKee an Organiser for the Transport and General Workers Union spoke of the importance incorporating migrant worker issues into the Trade Union agenda. Mike Jennings Regional Organiser of SIPTU said:

Speakers also emphasised the importance of challenging racism. This includes challenging the view migrant workers themselves are at fault for exploitation they suffer rather than rogue employers or agents. The directors of key two key non-governmental organisations running migrant worker centres north and south also addressed the conference plenary.

Siobhán O’Donoghue from the Dublin-based Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, covered issues in relation to racism and other barriers experienced by the inward migratory population. Bernadette McAliskey, Programme Coordinator of STEP (pictured left) outlined the support services needed by Migrant Workers at local level. She continued,

Anastasia Crickley, of the NCCRI, chairing the conference stated that

The afternoon session continued to explore workplace issues but also had workshops focussing on the gender dimension to migration and extra disadvantages women migrants can face; human rights concerns regarding areas such as immigration enforcement and the broad area of civil rights. The latter included an examination of the impact of governments removing the welfare safety net to specific groups of immigrants and the predictable human misery this can cause for persons encountering unexpected circumstances of sickness or loosing work.

The Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland outlined the impact of policies such as the UK Home Office Worker Registration Scheme – which prevents migrant workers from eight countries that joint the EU in 2004 receiving most income related benefits for the first year of registered work and the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland outlined the impact of the Habitual Residents Condition in the south.