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Migrant Workers Hold Demonstration at Batt O’Keeffe’s Office

Resource type: News

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland | [ View Original Source (opens in new window) ]

Dublin, Ireland – Over 200 migrant workers from across the country, along with trade union, community sector and employer allies, held a demonstration outside the offices of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe, T.D., calling on him to give workers employed through the employment permit system the right to change employer.


The current employment permits system binds a worker to one employer. This is a leading factor in the exploitation of workers. The MRCI is seeking an administrative change which would give people the freedom to exit exploitative conditions and find alternative work within their job category, without having to go through an entirely new permit application with its unnecessary costs and delays. Many TDs are saying MRCI’s proposal is sensible and the right thing to do, as do ICTU and employer bodies.



(Photo by Paula Geraghty)


“Minister Batt O’Keeffe’s lack of action on our ongoing calls to give workers the right to change employer has led us to take action here today,” says Hilda Regasi, a migrant worker from the Philippines and campaign volunteer. “Each day that passes without action from Minister O’Keeffe only enables this kind of exploitation to continue.”


See campaign updates and full newspaper coverage at www.mrci.ie.


View Full Press Release.


View Video of Demonstration.