Union chief warns about pay talks amid permits call
23/01/2006 - 11:10:13Negotiations on new national wage agreements must include measures to tackle job displacement and exploitation of foreign workers, Siptu president Jack O’Connor warned today as a poll revealed the vast majority of people want a work permit regime introduced.
A huge majority – 78% – believe people from central and east European states which joined the EU in 2004 should be required to apply for work permits before coming here to work. Only 17% are against the move.
Mr O’Connor said the poll on attitudes to migrant workers highlighted the need to combat job displacement and exploitation.
“It is now absolutely clear that, if we are to go into new national pay talks, and that has still to be decided, these issues must be addressed,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Even if we wanted to, neither the trade union movement, nor the Government, nor probably employers, could emerge with an acceptable proposal from those talks that does not comprehensively address these issues.”
The Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll found that support for a work permit regime crossed all age groups, social groups and regions, except for Progressive Democrat voters. Among them only 56% want work permits introduced.
The poll revealed that only 23% believe more foreign workers should be allowed to come here, 41% think there are now enough here and no more should be admitted. Some 29% believe there are too many foreign workers here and that steps should be taken to reduce their number.
A debate on immigration was sparked after Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte called for basic employment standards to be accepted across Europe. He suggested a work permit system be brought in for foreign workers, including those from the 10 EU accession states.
Maria Cronin, Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec) director of European and social policy, said the survey highlighted the need for a rational debate on immigration.
“I think immigration is a very important issue. I think we need to discuss and debate the issue. I think we need to recognise where fears exist and I think we need to try to address those fears,” Ms Cronin told RTE Radio.
But the Ibec director claimed that the Irish economy had absorbed migration in a constructive way.
“I don’t think that this is an issue that we should be fearful of. I think we should embrace it,” she said.
A new round of talks on national wage agreements and employment conditions are looming and Siptu, the country’s largest union, has warned employers must give assurances that workers’ rights will be upheld.
Following controversies at Irish Ferries, which proposed outsourcing more than 500 jobs, and Gama construction, where Turkish builders were underpaid, unions have demanded increased protection for both Irish and foreign workers.
Mr O’Connor said that, before talks on a national agreement could begin, guarantees should be given that wider social issues will not be ignored.
“It will also have to provide for substantially improved living standards enhancing the relative position of the lower paid and address key ‘social’ wage issues regarding health care, childcare, elder care and training in skills enhancement,” he said.
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