The Protection of the Health and Safety of Undocumented Workers in the EU
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Transcript of The Protection of the Health and Safety of Undocumented Workers in the EU
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ELAINE DEWHURSTDUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
The Protection of the Health and Safety of Undocumented Workers in
the EU
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Introduction
Who? Undocumented Immigrants
How? Response of states
What and Why? Current approach New EU Directive Way Forward
Conclusion
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Who? Definition of undocumented workers
Persons who do not have the requisite permission to work in the State “illegal workers” / “illegal aliens” / “undocumented workers” /
“irregular workers”EU Sanctions Directive
‘illegally staying third-country national’ means a third-country national present on the territory of a Member State, who does not fulfil, or no longer fulfils, the conditions for stay or residence in that Member State
‘illegal employment’ means the employment of an illegally staying third-country national
Wide category of persons – enter illegally (whether by fraud / deception or by trafficking) / enter legally – subsequently lose permission to remain in the State (whether through a fault of their own or otherwise)
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Who? The statistics
Between 4.5 – 8 million undocumented workers in the EU
Sectors: Primary Secondary Tertiary
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How? Response of States
Criminal penalties e.g. Gangmaster Legislation (UK) / Immigration Acts (Ireland) Penalise employers for hiring undocumented workers Penalise employees for being undocumented workers
Three D’s – Detection, Detention, Deportation Increased border controls / inspection mechanisms Detention facilities for undocumented workers Deportation of undocumented workers
Has it been successful? Still have 4.5 – 8 million undocumented workers in the
EU
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How? Addressing the Pull Factor
Pull factors are those factors that entice undocumented workers to a State An employer that is willing to hire an undocumented worker Question of mathematics
If risk of getting caught < profit gained from hiring an undocumented worker => worth taking the risk (pull factor)
If risk of getting caught >/ = profit gained from hiring an undocumented worker => not worth taking the risk (no pull factor)
How do we create greater risk / lower profit? Increase the criminal penalties Make undocumented workers as expensive as documented
workers Giving them employment rights
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What? Current Approaches
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Non-protection Approach
Undocumented workers are not entitled to any employment rights
The enforcement of employment rights (e.g. health and safety rights) dependent on existence of a valid contract of employment
Illegal contracts (e.g. Working in contravention of statute) renders the contract void ab initio (unenforceable)
No employment rights accrueDenies undocumented workers
Rights in employment Access to a complaints mechanism
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Reasons for non-protection approach
Two policy justifications Protection
The courts believe that by depriving illegally created agreements, and in particular contracts of employment, of their legal effect, they are in fact protecting the sanctity of the judicial process, as well as protecting regular employees and the State from a lowering of standards in the terms and conditions of employment
Deterrence both the courts and the legislature feel that such a policy
is the only way in which to deter irregular workers from taking up employment on the black market and threatening the security, both economic and national, of the state. In effect the rule ensures that the parties to an illegal agreement will never profit from their actions.
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Illegal Aliens
“The only good foreigner is Rod Stewart!”
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Usage of the Non- Protection Approach
For example, this is the current approach in: Ireland United Kingdom Slovenia Austria Denmark Finland Luxembourg Portugal Sweden
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Critique
Does not take into account the moral culpability of the parties
Allows for unjust enrichment of the employer
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Effect of Non-Protection Approach
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Protection with Consequences Approach
Some states have limited protection which allows the undocumented immigrants to claim for certain rights (such as equal pay)
This does not prevent the inevitable consequences i.e. that the state can detect, detain and deport the immigrant. States normally either protect only remuneration
rights or all rights States allow access to complaints procedures so that
undocumented workers can enforce their rights
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Rationale for Protection with Consequences Approach
The rationale behind this approach would appear to be based on a recognition that such workers are entitled to the protections of the law – unjust enrichment
Should not be immune from the consequences of working illegally in a state
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Usage of the Protection with Consequences Approach
France – protects remuneration rights and provides for a complaints mechanism
Germany – protects remuneration rights and provides for a complaints mechanism
Greece – protects remuneration rights and provides for a complaints mechanism
Netherlands / Greece Spain - full employment rights protection and
provision of a complaints mechanism Italy – full entitlement to remuneration and social
rights and provision of a complaints mechanism
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Critique
Recognises unjust enrichment If an irregular immigrant knows there are
consequences, they will be very unlikely to complain.
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Protection with Consequences Approach
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The New EU Approach
EU Sanctions Directive (2009/52 EC)
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A. Policy Shift
The EU Directive represents a policy shift from criminalisation and deportation policies - pull factor approach
Recognised in second paragraph of Preamble “ A key pull factor for illegal immigration into the EU is the possibility of obtaining work in the EU without the required legal status. Action against illegal immigration and illegal stay should therefore include measures to counter that pull force”.
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b. Approach
Protection with Consequences Only protects remuneration rights (illegal workers can
claim for back pay, taxes and social security contributions and costs arising from claiming back pay). Does not protect other employment rights
Remedies – Directive states that illegal workers should have access to an effective remedy – this is a breakthrough Directly – the worker can take a claim on their own behalf –
recognises the consequences that the worker will face as a result
Indirectly – the Directive makes provision (Article 13) for another body to act “on behalf of” or “in support of” an undocumented worker – is this a full protection approach? – no mention of confidentiality.
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c. Particularly Exploitative Working Conditions
The Directive states that (Article 9) that it would be a criminal offence to employ illegal workers in “particularly exploitative working conditions”
Definition has a number of elements:"particularly exploitative working conditions"
means working conditions, including those resulting from gender based or other discrimination, where there is a striking disproportion compared with the terms of employment of legally employed workers which, for example, affects workers’ health and safety, and which offends against human dignity
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Elements of the Definition
Striking Disproportion No clear indication - £2 v. £10
Comparator Legal worker v. Illegal worker Best possible comparator
Affects Health and Safety of Workers Only mention in the Directive (specifically aimed at
reducing exploitation!) Takes it seriously – criminal offence Very high level of care
Offends Human Dignity Raises bar very high
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The way Forward? Full Protection Approach
The Utopia!This is an approach (currently not operating in any
EU Member State) that allows protection but where such protection does not incur the consequences of detection, detention and deportation.
This can be achieved by the establishment of a confidential complaints mechanism - (attempts at this have been tried in France and Italy) Change our complaints systems – adopt new procedures
Reduces pull factor – more irregular immigrants complain and get rights, the more expensive they become
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Rationale for the Protection Approach
The rationale behind this particular approach appears to be twofold: It is unfair to allow an employer to profit at the
expense of an employee Such an approach can reduce the “pull” of irregular
immigrants as it makes them a risky and expensive option for an employer.
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Full Protection Approach
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Conclusion
Academics / States / EU Differ – Migrants sufferEconomic approach – only deals with
remuneration – some criminal penalties for serious breaches of health and safety legislation
May not have the desired effect – migrants will not use this system unless they get caught
Health and safety rights untouched and protection undeveloped