Foreign domestic workers such as nannies and home-helps will soon have the same employment rights as those in other industries, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Mr Willie O'Dea, said today.
However, the Labour Party says the move has been forced upon the Government by the EU and is not a response to the issue highlighted last week by a Filipino nanny who was allegedly forced to work around 100 hours per week by her employers.
"This is not the case, as Willie O'Dea would like to portray it, of him taking a humanitarian initiative to protect domestic workers; it is simply a case of the government being forced by the EU to extend worker protection legislation".
Mr O'Dea says he is introducing an amendment to the Employment Equality Act within a matter of weeks because the case of a woman referred to as Ina, highlighted by RTÉ, stimulated him to further research the subject.
The woman claimed she worked for a wealthy family who made her work up to 100 hours per week for just €190. When she sought legal redress she discovered equality legislation specifically excluded workers employed in a person's home.
The Equality Authority estimates around 800 people will be affected by the intended change in legislation.