Migrant Worker Exploitation Is Undercutting Irish Jobs - Naughten

"The Government's failure to give migrant workers equal rights has allowed some employers to use them to undercut Irish employees. This is leading to a dangerous level of resentment which must be stamped out. The only way that this can be effectively eradicated is by ensuring that the employment inspectorate takes aggressive action by prosecuting the directors of these companies.

"The language barrier is clearly a part of the problem, as many foreign employees are not aware of their rights and entitlements.

"The Government has a role in addressing this issue through VECs and other training agencies, but there must also be an onus on employers to ensure that staff are integrated into the workforce.

"The Fianna Fáil Government has a poor record in stamping out the exploitation of migrant workers.

"It failed to reach its own target to employ 90 labour inspectors by the end of last year, as set out in the Towards 2016 Partnership agreement.

"These inspectors are necessary to address employment abuses and the underpayment of workers.

"Furthermore, the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) does not have strong enough powers to deal with rogue employers that fail to pay the minimum wage to their employees.

"Labour Affairs Minister Billy Kelleher recently admitted in the Dáil that not a single prosecution has been brought against any of the 192 employers who were found to have failed to pay the minimum wage or appropriate minimum pay rate in 2007.

"The Minister also confirmed that NERA does not have the power to impose fines on rogue employers.

"Fianna Fáil has failed to take worker exploitation seriously. There have been countless examples in the construction industry where Irish workers were let go and replaced by migrant workers at much lower rates.

"Some have hit national prominence such as the treatment of Gama construction workers from Turkey and the Polish workers at the ESB station in Moneypoint, Co. Clare.

"Notwithstanding the many reputable companies who employ both Irish and migrant employees and abide by our employment laws and wage rates, those who abuse the system must be weeded out.

"Unless this is addressed, reputable companies will go out of business, with significant job losses, as they will be unable to compete with undercutting by the cowboys."