A mushroom picker from Latvia claimed at an Employment Appeals Tribunal yesterday that she worked 16 and 17 hours a day for six and sometimes seven days a week while she was employed at a mushroom factory in the west of Ireland.
Laila Kramina was giving evidence at a hearing in Castlebar into claims of unfair and constructive dismissal against the employer, Anthony Blowick of Atlantic Mushrooms Ltd, Belmullet, Co Mayo.
Kramina and three co-workers, fellow Latvian Zenta Ozola; Ukrainian Iryna Lapshyna and Iryna Melik-Davydona from Russia have addresses c/o the Migrants Rights Centre Ireland, Beresford Place, Dublin. The witness was recruited by the company in Latvia and worked for the company between October 2001 and April 2004.
Ms Kramina claimed she had suffered ill-health while in the employment. She was involved in physical work in tunnels that were sprayed with chemicals.
She also claimed that although her employer provided accommodation she had to share a house with 17 other workers.
The case was outlined to the three member tribunal at an earlier hearing by barrister Saul Woolfson, instructed by Kevin Brophy, solicitor, who said the pay amounted to €2.20 to €2.50 per hour, significantly below the minimum wage. Often they started work at 7am and continued to 10 pm and 11pm. The claims are being contested by the company, which is represented by barrister Marguerite Bolger.
Ms Bolger told the tribunal that during the period the complainants worked for Atlantic Mushrooms, the company had been inspected three times by Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment inspectors who reported that the company was in compliance with regulations.
The hearing continues.