DUBLIN – A report by the European Union on Employment and Social Affairs, which claims that life in Ireland is hell for unorganised and migrant workers, is being debated once more. According to the report, the lives of workers in private nursing homes, delivery services, and meat plants, including front-line and essential workers, are in dire straits. Organisations such as the Migrants’ Rights Center have now come forward to demand that the problems be addressed immediately.
The report, which shames the whole of Ireland, marks the worst living conditions faced by this group. The study says Ireland remains the only country in the Western world without the right to organised bargaining. The report says there is a need to change Ireland’s legislation to bring it in line with European social rights that recognise employees’ bargaining rights.
This report, prepared for the States of Employment and Social Affairs, purports to be a re-evaluation of unorganised workers’ working conditions and wages.
The report calls out that the lives of frontline workers and essential employees are now in a state of vulnerability. Their lives became more dangerous as the pandemic spread. The report, prepared for the European Parliament’s consideration, highlights a variety of life issues, such as the lack of legitimate sick pay, leaving wages, and affordable childcare services.
Women suffer the most.
Migrant women are the majority in all these sectors. Almost all staff in nursing homes are women. Nobody knows about their problems or sorrows.
Workers from other countries were brought in to work in the horticultural sector and meat plants throughout the pandemic, said the report. There were no health and safety precautions, such as social distancing, in place in the area. Poor working and living conditions and arduous public journeys have made all the workers here sick. Their miserable lives and sufferings went unnoticed. The report testifies that there was no one to speak for them.
The tragedy of private nursing homes.
The report recalls that the privatisation of nursing homes has undermined the quality of care and put staff at risk. The report warns that if the government does not intervene immediately, this sector will perish.
The report points out that nursing homes have become breeding grounds. Life is miserable here due to social invisibility, a lack of sick pay, a lack of childcare facilities, a lack of training, and overcrowding.
Screams that no one hears.
Nurses and doctors are all facing exhaustion. However, the world is hearing their voices through organised trade unions and groups. But there are thousands of people in this field who are voiceless. As per the report, no one sees them.
Louise O’Reilly, Sinn Féin’s spokesman, said the report showed a disparity between organised and unorganised workplaces.
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