Migrant workers are not reporting cases of racism and discrimination in the workplace out of fear of losing their work permits, it has emerged.
A new report by a government advisory body on racism says organisations dealing with migrants have reported threats by employers not to renew work permits of employees who have taken steps to inform the authorities about racial bias.
The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) says it is deeply concerned by this development, documented in its latest bi-annual summary of racist incidents reported to it between November 2002 and April 2003. A total of 48 incidents were reported to the committee in that six months, most commonly assaults, abuse and harassment.
Two thirds of the incidents reported occurred in the greater Dublin area, with almost one in five in urban areas outside Dublin.
The incidents include:
A family from Cameroon experienced ongoing hostility in a Limerick housing estate, including racist jokes and verbal abuse. A petrol can was set on fire outside the family's front door while they were inside.
A Kosovan man and his Irish wife were subjected to racist verbal abuse, death threats and property damage in a Dublin suburb by a gang of youths. They are too afraid to report the incidents to the Garda for fear of reprisals.
An Algerian man was hit by an iron bar and kicked in the head in Dublin city centre by a group of men and women. He reported the incident to gardaí who said they would contact him, but did not.