Green Party reiterates criticism of Employment Permits Bill

Press Release: Justice 5 October 2005

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Dún Laoghaire, Environment and Justice Press Releases

18 October 2005

Green Party reiterates criticism of Employment Permits Bill

The Green Party has backed today's criticism by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions of the Employment Permits Bill 2005.

The Party's Justice spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD stated that,
"The Bill places too much control in the hands of the employer. Under the proposed legislation, the employer and not the employee will be responsible for applying for a work permit. If the employee then wishes to change jobs at any stage he or she will have to rely on a new employer to secure the work permit.

"This Bill does give some rights to workers, but they will still be at the mercy of an employer who can fire the worker, and by implication remove their work permit. This is a dangerous dependency that is unacceptable.

"Instead the Government should introduce a Green Card system similar to that operated by the United States that allows immigrant workers to seek work in a particular sector, rather than be tied to a single employer.

"Migrant workers are vulnerable at the best of times. This Bill does not go far enough in granting them the rights they deserve."