Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 November 2006
84 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will ensure that speakers of minority languages are recruited as part of the expansion of the number of labour inspectors in order to direct special attention to migrant workers who may be especially at risk from exploitation; the status of the recruitment campaign for the additional labour inspectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37743/06]
View answerThe eligibility requirements and terms and conditions of employment for the position of Labour Inspector do not provide for competence in minority languages. While Inspectors come into contact and engage with migrant workers in the course of investigations a substantial portion of the Inspectorate's time is allocated to the detailed examination of employment records and compliance with a substantial corpus of employment rights legislation generally. The generality of investigative work undertaken by Labour Inspectors does not require that they be competent in a variety of languages. Where the need for interpretation services are required, such as in the taking of statements from employees or the translation of documents, the Inspectorate has adequate access to a panel of competent individuals who can provide the services necessary in a broad range of languages.
The Employment Rights Information Unit (ERIU) of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment produces a range of materials including information leaflets and booklets that provide a condensed and simplified version of the large corpus of Employment Rights legislation that is currently on the Statute Books. With particular regard for the needs of workers from overseas the Department has translated key Employment Rights information into nine languages and made this available both in leaflet form and on the Department's website.
The existing staff complement of the Labour Inspectorate of the Department comprises 31 Inspectors and some 7 administrative support staff. The number of Labour Inspectors under this Office will be progressively increased from 31 to 90 by end-2007, as part of the initiative provided in "Towards 2016" to increase the staffing resources of the Employment Rights Bodies generally.
This Department is in consultation with the Department of Finance in relation to the filling of the new Labour Inspector positions. I expect that the necessary arrangements and selection processes can be progressed between now and end year with a view to assignments being made from the second quarter of 2007.
