THE Government has approved a reprieve for foreign nationals who have become undocumented due to exploitation.
Opening for applications from 1 October 2009 till the end of the year, the scheme will provide undocumented non-EEA nationals – who show that their undocumented status is through no fault of their own – with a temporary immigration permission of four months within which to seek legitimate employment, or to obtain a work permit if they are already employed.
According to the Department of Justice: “Each case is assessed on its merits and the temporary permission (which has been referred to by some as a “bridging visa”) is only given where the applicant can satisfy the authorities as to the merits of their application.
“The scheme does not apply to any other categories of undocumented migrant (eg those who entered the State illegally or overstayed their visa).”
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said: “Where migrant workers have not been treated fairly by their employer and this has been the cause of their undocumented status it is appropriate that we give them the chance to put things right.”
The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI), which strongly campaigned for the measure, welcomed its introduction, but suggested that it fell behind what was hoped for.
“The Government is on the right path towards fixing the problems created by a poorly-designed immigration and work permit system,” said MRCI director Siobhán O’Donoghue. “But this is only the first step towards regularising the estimated 30,000 undocumented persons in Ireland, many of whom have similar stories to the undocumented Irish in the US.
“A wider scheme is still needed to provide a pathway for them to come forward and be allowed to participate more fully and equally in Irish society.”
