Vol. 535 No. 3
54 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if application forms for work permits and explanatory documents setting out the essential elements of Irish employment rights legislation and protection for workers will be available in a range of languages; the languages in which these documents are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12189/01]
59 Mr. U. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she expects to make available a document containing a statement of basic rights for workers in various languages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12410/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 59 together.
A summary document on the employment rights of non-nationals working in Ireland has been prepared in my Department and is now being translated into the following languages: Chinese, Czech, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese and Russian.
Translation is due to be completed early this month. It is planned to make the information available on the Department's web page.
The languages chosen represent some of the larger groups coming here to work from overseas. It should be remembered that a great many overseas workers coming here under the work permits system are coming from an English speaking environment or have a good command of the language. Given the environment in which they are to operate it is reasonable to expect employers to insist on staff with the requisite language skills.
There are currently no plans to make the work permit application form available in different languages as it is the employer here who makes the application and not the employee.
