The Independent Workers Union exposes abuse of Chinese Workers

By Brian Halpin

The Independent Workers’ Union exposed the latest case of the exploitation of migrant workers in the Celtic Tiger Economy. The case concerns seven Chinese females all working for Klean Fit limited located at unit 1, Old River House, Templegoue, Dublin 6 West.

The dispute arises with the owner of the company, Ms. Anita Ryan, who has issued a series of bounced cheques to the workers as wage payment. This now results with the employer owing the workers 11,323.51 euro between them. She is also holding on to the workers P45’s which is causing them untold hardship and problems obtaining further employment and claiming social welfare benefits.

Amy explained how she was met with excuse after excuse when she pressed her employer for payment. However, she trusted that her employer would pay her wages because she always handled her in a polite manner and seemed sincere. Amy worked with the company as a manager for 3 years and she received no payment from September 2006 to January 2007. She is owed, in total, 5,587.62 euro.

Wendy became pregnant while working for the company. But, she was forced to move back to China because she was not getting paid for the work she had done. Moreover, the child when born will face many restrictions in life as he/she will be born to unmarried parents. At the age of 22, Wendy’s hopes and dreams of a new life in Ireland have been shattered by a rogue employer. She is owed 2,455.65 euro.

Ray O’Reilly from the Independent Workers’ Union said “we have been struggling to try and get the company to see reason to pay these workers for work done. We sent letters to them, tried to make phone calls and the girls have been going back and forward to them”.

The Independent Workers’ Union will proceed for hearings before the Labour Court on behalf of the seven workers under the Payment of Wages Act 1981, The Organisation of Time Act 1997 and the Minimum Notice and terms of Employment Act 1973-2001. They will also revert to traditional trade union methods if necessary.

The gross abuse of migrant workers is a disturbing reality in the Celtic Tiger economy but only membership of a trade union which puts its members first can provide the necessary protection and solidarity to workers

Global Warming is a Global Injustice

Global Warming is a Global Injustice

By Brian Halpin
5/11/2007

The poor suffer most in climate change even though they contribute least to the problem. On the launch of the fourth assessment report on policy options to mitigate climate change, the chairperson of the IPCC, Rajendra Pachauri confirms this, he said “the poorest of the poor in the world, and this includes poor people in prosperous societies, are going to be hit worst. People who are poor are least able to adapt to climate change”.

Therefore, we must look at global warming as a humanitarian issue as much as an environmental crisis. Third world countries already suffer from extreme poverty, human rights abuses, hunger, AIDS and corrupt governments and they will also carry the burden of climate change. Their food, shelter and safety are at greater risk than those in more comfortable nations who are responsible for increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and they have the power to address the problem.

In Africa, between 25 and 250 million people are predicted to be exposed to an increase in water stress by 2020. Also, agricultural production is expected to be severely compromised by climate change. Tens of millions of people are likely to be made homeless and left without the means of growing food or making a living to support their family.

Already, In Kenya, violence has occurred in drought hit areas. Pastoralists in the north of the country have started killing each other over the right to water their cattle at a diminishing number of watering holes. In Bangladesh, the entire population is insecurely perched above sea level. If, as expected, rises in sea level would leave millions displaced and disposed.

Climate change is an accelerating risk to everybody’s long term welfare. The IPCC report estimates that about 3% of the global GDP by 2030 would be enough to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

In Ireland, we are one of the biggest polluters per head of population. So, it’s our responsibility to lobby our government to take its role seriously. We also need to encourage our government to lobby other industrial nations to cut down on their carbon emissions. As Pat Finnegan of Grian warns there is “no room left” for policy makers in Ireland or Internationally to “doubt, dodge or obfuscate any further on climate change”

The real challenge however, is to see whether our government can take the necessary positive steps and put the environment and humanity ahead of big business and profit.
brian.halpin@ucdconnect.ie