Sinn Fein raises migrant workers rights
Arthur Morgan, Sinn Fein TD for Louth, got a few square blows (and one rabbit punch at the end) in for his party’s election campaign, when he went head to head this morning on Morning Ireland with Harry Nash of Transport Components Ltd over the rights of migrant South African workers putting safety belts on Bus Eireann buses. The workers appear to getting way below (about €2.50 per hour) the minimum wage (€7.65 per hour), although Nash argued that a groups of expenses paid by the company, and apparently exempted by the 2000 Act, meant the actual wage will eventually work out at just over the national minimum.
A pedant notes, the Sinn Féin press statement contradicts itself:
First it claims, “They have not been paid any overtime to date despite working up to 72 hours a week including night shifts.”
But later in the same statement that becomes, “They are expected to work up to 62 hours a week including night shifts but have received no overtime pay to date.”
ON a technical point the workers are, I would assume, contracted to “Marble Gold, which is a trade name for a South African company PROSEAT”, it is that company which is to blame if anyone’s rights are being infringed by the workers’ contracts – which according to Nash isn’t the case legally.
Still, it’s always heartening to see some people willing to stand up for the lowest and most vulnerable in society.
Fair play to the shinners for this one.
I’m posting on this thread because there’s no opportunity to do so on the other.
What’s going on with this site these days? Yer man Fair Deal has a thread there titled “Destruction of Orange Halls – An Analysis”, despite there being no analysis and he’s locked it, presumably because he don’t want any alternative analysis of his figures. Bad form altogether, Slugger is running the risk here of becoming just another opportunity for different sections to peddle propaganda.
Proves what I have always suspected about the whole multiculturalist lark. The real agenda seems to be rather less noble than the sentiments from some ppl. SF are right to expose alleged exploitation.
Fair play indeed. Speaking up for immigrants is hardly a vote winner these days. Can €2.50 per hour be right though? Surely enough folks would be appalled at people being asked to work for this that other parties could speak up too?
Gum I think the issue of exploitation of immigrants is a vote-winner (unlike letting too many in) because if it is allowed then the natives get displaced by slaves imported from outside.
Didn’t BBC’s Spotlight do a programme not so long ago on some low-life in Co. Armagh who was paying his mushroom pickers £5 a day?
Any parties in NI fighting the immigrants’ corner?
Fighting the immigrants corner?
Hmmm.. as Brian has suggested, in his own inimitable manner, the result of any changes in the law governing the contracts for these particular South African workers is likely to mean they will lose their current jobs.. and will probably mean less work being contracted to companies outside the EU, if not outside Ireland, in future.
We all know why this is?? Any votes will do for sinn fein/ira!!!
If they fight for peoples rights, they deserve their votes.
I can think of worse ways for a political party to garner votes.
Fanny,
If they were 21 or younger that’s above the minimum (£4.25). As of last year the UK minimum for adults is £5.
Mick, per DAY ???!!!
This noble campaign by Sinn Fein is consistent with thr party’s approach to the controversy surrounding emigration in general. Although the party has taken the high moral ground on the issue despite the probality that it will cost them votes andposibility seats in the forthcoming dáil elections, given that the emigration issue has been a hot potato that the conservtive parties (Labour, f/f and blueshirts) try to steer well clear of, SF’s stand on behalf of emigrants is both compassionate and admirable.
Fair play on this one. Although their stand on sustainable rural development was too until the U-turn.
Wait until the lobbyists show up and then lets see what the Shinners do.
Its a pity though – we dearly need a party whose principles can’t be bought.