Skip to main content

Irish government’s failure to tackle human trafficking is causing severe harm to vulnerable individuals

ニュース 記者発表資料

The US State Department has criticised the Irish Government’s failure to tackle modern slavery, yet again. For the second year in a row, in its Trafficking in Persons Report, the State Department has placed Ireland in ‘Tier 2’, as a result of the Government’s failure to meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking.

The US State Department has criticised the Government’s abysmal failures in failing to: 

  • Obtain any convictions for human trafficking in the six years that have followed since the introduction of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Act in 2013;
  • Prosecute any human traffickers in 2018, including those exploiting migrant fishermen on Irish trawlers; 
  • Address the “chronic deficiencies” in victim identification, referral and assistance;
  • Provide specialised accommodation or adequate services for victims.

This shameful categorisation comes on the heels of the International Transport Workers’ Federation taking legal action to force the Government to address the severe labour trafficking and human rights abuses caused by the Atypical Work Permit Scheme for non-EEA crew in the Irish Fishing Fleet, which it established. 

The settlement agreement reached between the ITF and the Government in April of this year mandated changes in the Scheme to introduce a suite of protections for non-EU migrant fishermen, including, the right to move job without the consent of their sponsoring employer; the ability to obtain a copy of their contract and information in respect of the rights in their native language and English; and the right to be informed of how to lodge a complaint when their rights are violated. 

The Government also pledged to transpose an EU Directive governing maximum hours of work, minimum hours of rest and staffing requirements aboard commercial fishing vessels by 15 November, despite its failure to previously do so when repeatedly called upon. 

Yet, the State shows no signs of taking action to implement the agreement to date, and the US State Department Report published today serves as another reminder of the Government’s willingness to place vulnerable individuals at risk, compounding a national humiliation.  

Ken Fleming, the ITF Coordinator for the United Kingdom and Ireland says:

“The Government’s continued failure to demonstrate a clear commitment to tackle trafficking in human beings is not acceptable. The Government can begin by taking action today to implement the agreement reached between the ITF and various Government Departments in April 2019. 

The Atypical Work Permit Scheme, designed to prevent human trafficking in the fishing industry, had precisely the opposite effect. Despite raising concerns on several occasions,  the ITF was forced to take the Government to court in order to obtain its agreement to reform the Scheme. Yet there’s still no sign of any meaningful reform on the ground. 

It’s time the Taoiseach intervened to ensure victims of human trafficking are provided with adequate protections and to stop our country’s reputation being dragged through the mud by modern-day slave drivers.”

For more information contact Luke Menzies on +61 433 889 844 or email menzies_luke@itf.org.uk

現場の声

ニュース

南米大陸横断回廊のトラック運転手を保護するILO勧告

南米大陸横断回廊の道路運送を持続可能にする画期的な勧告を ILO が発表  この ILO 勧告 は南米大陸横断回廊を走行するトラック運転手の労働条件・安全衛生向上のための具体的な計画を示したもので、南米の ITF 加盟組合、使用者団体、各国政府の合意の成果である。  チリ、ボリビア、アルゼンチン、パラグアイ、ブラジルを横断するこの回廊は、輸送コストの削減と雇用機会の拡大を通じて
ニュース

ITFの女性が世界を動かす!

ジェンダー平等が約束ではなく、実践される世界を築く  2024 年 10 月の大会での選出以降、初の女性委員会が今週2日間にわたり開催され、活発な議論と意見交換を経て、向こう5年間の優先事項が確認された。  連帯と女性のリーダーシップというテーマがすべての議論に貫かれ、女性交通運輸労働者のために成果を実現し、強力で平等な組合を構築する活動計画の基礎が固められた。  ジェンダーに起因する賃金格差