Remarks by Minister for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen at the European Forum on Workplace Discrimination and Integration

Minister for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen today (Thursday 10^th November 2005) launched a European Discussion Forum on Workplace Discrimination and Integration.

The Forum, which is organised by the ILO and several partner organisations including IBEC and ICTU, is intended to enhance employer and trade-union efforts towards equality of opportunity for migrant workers and their integration in workplaces.

Speaking at the conference Minister Killeen said “The issue of discrimination and integration of migrant workers is an important and difficult one. It is it not a simple one as it gets mixed up within discussions around immigration and globalisation. Racism has no place in any part of life in Ireland. We must continue to welcome and manage our evolution as a multi-cultural society.

Combating racism and creating a more inclusive society are key priorities of this Government. Within Ireland we have come quite late to this debate with high levels of immigration only happening in the last 15 years. In a short number years Ireland has been transformed from a country of emigration to one of net inward migration with over 100 nationalities now working in Ireland.

This continued rapid pace of economic growth and the associated social change have important implications in the workplace. My Department is very much concerned about the issues of workplace relationships, and in particular issues such as family friendly policies, bullying and racism.

The publication earlier this year of the National Action Plan against Racism constitutes strong testimony to the commitment given by the Government at the UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban 2001. This commitment was further affirmed in Sustaining Progress, the Social Partnership Agreement 2003 –2005, under which the Plan is a key element of the Special Initiative on Migration and Interculturalism.

The Government is currently reviewing and replacing or modernising a number of pieces of legislation. These include in my Department, the Employment Permits Bill, which contains a number of new important protections for migrant employees and in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform an important review of Immigration and Residence rules. All equality and employment legislation covers everyone working in Ireland, including migrant workers.

Legislation alone however will not solve the challenge of integration – it needs to win hearts and minds and to change attitudes and actions.

This is why we in Ireland have put in place an Anti-Racist Workplace Week. It is a week when we make sure that the message is clear that migrant workers in Ireland are welcome, are essential for our economy and are valued members of our communities. In its 6^th year, this has been a useful and valuable week to get a message across and to support organisations in thinking about what they can do to improve integration within their organisation. Anti-Racist Workplace Week is now part of a broader strategy – the National Action Plan Against Racism, which my Government is committed to. We all must all work together to ensuring a fully integrated and inclusive society.

Finally, may I wish you all success with your important work and look forward to seeing the outcome of your deliberations.

ENDS

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