La Strada Documentation Center

Exploitation of Domestic Workers by Foreign Diplomats in Ireland

Document number
2525
Date
2010
Title
Exploitation of Domestic Workers by Foreign Diplomats in Ireland
Author/publisher
Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI)
Availability
View/save PDF version of this document
Document type(s)
Media/News,
Keywords
Human trafficking, Slave Labour, Sexual Exploitation, Slavery, Servitude, Forced Labour, Debt bondage, Labour exploitation, Domestic labour, Slavery-like practices; Agricultural labour;
Summary
The Dispatches programme, ‘Britain's Secret Slaves', on Channel 4 of the British television, highlighted how embassy staff are hiding behind diplomatic immunity to abuse their domestic workers and effectively ‘legalise slavery' in the UK. According to the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI), such exploitation by foreign diplomats is happening in Ireland as well. MRCI has been dealing with cases in recent months, where domestic workers employed by foreign diplomats are exploited and denied their basic rights. MRCI Director Siobhán O'Donoghue said that MRCI is currently working on six cases involving domestic workers employed by diplomats. Accessing redress in these cases is proving difficult due to the barrier of diplomatic immunity.
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