A new Bill due to pass through the Oireachtas today will allow work permit holders to change employer.
The Employment Permits Bill 2022, which has been brought forward by Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Emer Higgins, will grant workers on employment permits the freedom to change employer after a period of 9 months has elapsed.
Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) described the measure as a vital new protection for workers which will significantly reduce their risk of exploitation.
“The right to change employer for work permit holders is a major victory for thousands of people across Ireland who provide vital care for older people, build our roads and houses, drive our buses and pick, process and cook our food on a daily basis,” said Edel McGinley, Director, MRCI.
“The work permit system has for too long tied a person to one employer and as a result they were easily taken advantage of.”
“In our experience restricting a person to one employer has been the biggest factor leading to the cases of gross exploitation of migrant workers that we come across,” Ms McGinley said.
MRCI said it is urging the Government to quickly put in place the new procedures necessary to enable people to change employer.