This article is from page 1 of the 2007-10-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
IMMIGRANT workers brought into this county through rogue recruit- ment agencies are being underpaid and ripped off for accommodation.
And the practice is commonplace, according to the findings of a new report on the needs and experiences of ethnic minorities in Clare.
The report indicates that some
recruitment companies are paying their immigrant workers well below the proper rate.
Other rip-off practices include pro- viding accommodation and charg- ing far more than the workers would pay if they made their own arrange- ments.
Sky-high accommodation charges, often for sub-standard barren rooms, is deducted from the workers’ wages
so they have no opportunity to com- eenbee
Poor language skills and a lack of understanding of rights and entitle- ments leaves some groups highly vulnerable.
Polish workers are among the eth- nic groups affected by the scam and the construction industry is one area Where pockets of exploitation were sKo)bn nen