"Rights and entitlements for migrant workers" is to be the theme of a trade union rally in Dublin today to mark May Day.
The event, organised by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, is to begin with a march from Parnell Square at 2.30pm and culminate in a mass meeting at Liberty Hall.
Siptu official Eric Fleming, co-ordinator of the rally, said the treatment of migrant workers from both inside and outside the EU had become a national issue. "There is now growing public awareness of very high levels of exploitation of migrant workers in construction, services and other sectors," he said.
While much attention had rightly been paid to the plight of the Gama Construction workers, Irish employers were just as capable of ill-treating employees, he claimed.
Siptu had recently exposed an Irish construction firm paying workers as little as €4.31 an hour instead of the construction industry minimum rate of €14.74, for example. "And, of course, the beautician, Salvacion Orge, was working for the princely sum of €1 an hour on an Irish Ferries boat."
Mr Fleming said trade union efforts to identify and assist workers who were being exploited must be supplemented by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's labour inspectorate.
Speakers at today's event will include Mr Fleming, Sam Nolan of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions and Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins.
