Ireland: Scheme launched to help undocumented migrant workers

The Irish Government announced in September 2009 a scheme to allow foreign workers who do not have a work permit because of unfair treatment by their employer to remain temporarily in Ireland while applying for a permit or a new job.

Under the current national social partnership agreement, the Government promised to take action to help migrant workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who previously held permits to work in Ireland but have become "undocumented" through no fault of their own, usually because their employers have not renewed their work permits.