On 15th October, the Justice for the Undocumented campaign group held their research launch ‘Live Here, Work Here, Belong Here’. Over the previous year they surveyed over 1,000 undocumented people in Ireland to find out about their lives, their work and their hopes for the future.
Justice for the Undocumented (JFU) is a campaign and community group of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland. It is made up of over 1,500 undocumented people. Being Undocumented means that you do not have any status here in Ireland. Most undocumented people had a status but were unable to renew it and made the hard decision to stay and try to make a better life for themselves here in Ireland. They are just like the undocumented Irish who are living in the US and elsewhere.
People move, for work, to make better life, it’s normal. Irregular Migration is a global phenomenon and part of Ireland’s migration for many years. MRCI estimates that there are between 15,000 – 17,000 undocumented people in Ireland, with 2,000 – 3,000 being children. JFU believes that everyone deserves to live safely and securely in their home.
What the survey showed us
- Undocumented people are living here a very long time: 76% living here 5 years or more, some as long as 20 years.
- Undocumented people are working to support themselves: 93% of undocumented people are working to support themselves
- Working age: 70% are aged between 25 & 44 (they are young workers who want to make their life in Ireland long term)
- They are working in vital sectors: Elder Care in the private home (27%), Restaurant and Catering (20%), Cleaning & Maintenance (17%), Childcare (10%), Construction (5%), Retail (4%)
- They are consistent, reliable and skilled workers: 75% are in the same job 3 years or more
- Undocumented people are much more likely to face exploitation
- They face long hours: 46% working more than 40 hours
- They face low pay: 26% don’t even receive the minimum wage
Simple things like reporting a crime, finding safe work or accessing medical services are difficult and dangerous for undocumented people. Asserting their labour rights is often impossible. They live in constant fear and anxiety that the next knock on the door could be someone to take them away.
Undocumented people are at the heart of our communities but do not have a pathway to papers. As friends, neighbours and co-workers we need to offer a clear and fair solution.
A pathway to papers
That solution may be on the horizon for Ireland’s undocumented people. As a result of 10 years campaigning on this issue Justice for the Undocumented has finally received a clear commitment from government to introduce pathways to papers for Ireland’s undocumented people. The support of a network of allies including the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU) was integral in achieving this.
This historic commitment was made in the programme for government and at JFU’s recent launch the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee restated their commitment to introduce a regularisation programme within 18 months of taking office.
Hopes are high
As part of the launch Justice for the Undocumented asked members what it would mean to them to get their status here in Ireland.
Karuna said: “My 5 year old daughter who was born here and my eldest who is 11 have never seen each other. They could finally meet as sisters and I could breathe easily for the first time in 10 years.”
Zeinab said “Sometimes I am not paid the full amount, other times I am not paid at all. If I had my status I could stand up to this. I could get a better job and give my children a better future. We could all go to visit my parents and have a family reunion.”
We need this solution to be broad and inclusive so that undocumented workers, children and families can live safely and securely in their home. No one should be left behind. People cannot wait any longer.