English language courses should be made available for migrant workers in order to help the integration of record numbers of immigrants into Irish society, according to a report to be published today.
It is one of a number of recommendations contained in a policy document on integration by the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI), to be launched by the UN's special representative on migration, Peter Sutherland.
The report, Realising Integration, identifies a number of barriers faced by migrant workers on a daily basis in relation to their economic, social, political and cultural inclusion.
A lack of proficiency in English is a key obstacle to integration and leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation, unemployment and deprivation, it warns.The cost of language courses and lack of access to State-sponsored tuition means many migrants are not able to learn the language properly. As a result, the report calls for English classes to made made available to all workers, regardless of their immigration status.
Other measures which the report recommends to promote better integration include:
Enabling family reunification: migrant workers do not have automatic rights to bring their families into the State with them. It recommends a statutory entitlement to family reunification for migrants
Better access to support: workers should be able to access language-appropriate information on their rights and entitlements, especially those in more vulnerable settings
Interpretation services: a high-quality interpretation service should be established for all public services, such as health, justice and education
Better access to social protection: provide social assistance payments to non-habitually resident workers who report exploitation and wish to take a case to the Labour Relations Commission or other relevant body
Addressing undocumented workers: some migrants enter the country legally but may end up undocumented as a result of not renewing a work permit. This may be their fault or their employer's. A new bridging visa could help workers who end up undocumented through no fault of their own.
The MRCI's director Siobhán O'Donoghue said it was time to move beyond rhetoric and address the issues surrounding integration. "If integration is to become a reality it must be facilitated and resourced. It will not happen automatically and will need political leadership."
She said some recent steps by the Government were not encouraging, such as the publication of the scheme for a new Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill. "Despite two references to integration, it does not contain a definition of integration, or any description of how it is to be achieved or resourced. Rather, the Bill in its current format provides a blueprint for segregation," she said.
The challenge, she said, was to build an inclusive society in which everyone felt a sense of belonging.
"If we don't put in place the building blocks for this to happen, in a way that respects their dignity and rights, the potentially negative consequences will be significant. We must learn the lessons from other countries who have failed to address this challenge," Ms O'Donoghue said.