Migrants who come here are twice as likely to have degrees as the indigenous Irish, yet they frequently find themselves working in low-paid jobs, the launch of Anti-Racist Workplace Week heard yesterday.
Some 41 per cent of migrant women and 39 per cent of migrant men have degrees, compared with 19 per cent of Irish women and 15 per cent of men.
"And yet the new migrants often find themselves working in sectors that offer them low pay and do not tally with their degrees," said Lucy Gaffney, chairwoman of the National Action Plan Against Racism's strategic monitoring group.
She said migrants from non-EU countries often found their qualifications were not recognised here. Ms Gaffney called for senior managers to plan for the diversity needs of their organisations and discuss it in the boardroom, instead of passing it to their human resources manager.
She said it was "terribly disappointing" that just 250 out of 700 companies took up an invitation to an Anti-Racist Workplace Week event last year. This showed the importance that top companies placed on the issue of diversity, she said.
Currently, racist discrimination accounts for almost one in four complaints to the Equality Authority where the Employment Equality Acts are concerned. The allegations relate to access to employment, dismissal, working conditions and equal pay, according to Niall Crowley, chief executive of the Equality Authority.
"Particular issues also arise in the case files in relation to recognition of foreign qualifications by various professional bodies and in relation to eligibility of people from outside the EU for civil service posts," he said.
Mr Crowley called on employers to provide support to migrant workers to help them adapt to their workplaces. They should also ensure employees have skills to engage with a culturally diverse workplace.
He also asked employers to develop specific plans to help migrant women, following the launch of an Equality Authority report which highlighted problems facing these women. An Introduction to the Situation and Experience of Migrant Women found evidence of unethical recruitment practices, underpayment or non-payment of wages and harassment by employers. One mushroom picker told how she was being paid €0.50 an hour and was sacked when she complained.
As part of Anti-Racist Workplace Week, a radio and billboard campaign will run all week to promote equality and diversity in the workplace. Groups around the country have also developed plans to involve local employers and trade unionists to develop integrated workplaces.
