'Systematic failure' of employment permit system as workers exploited but fear reporting it

Ottoline Spearman

“I worked 70 to 80 hours a week with no proper breaks. If you took a 15 minute break, you would be in trouble.”

These are the words of an individual in a recent survey looking at exploitation of employment permit holders.

Their words are indicative of a huge problem - that many people who hold permits are being actively exploited in what has been described as a "systematic failure" of the system.

Around 1,000 employment permit holders were surveyed between July 2025 and February this year, with 71 per cent saying that they had experienced exploitation.

The survey, conducted by Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI), found that 61 per cent had experienced exploitation that was severe - where they had suffered repeated or multiple employment rights breaches.

“If you are a general employment permit holder in Ireland, then more likely than not you have been exploited at some point," said MCRI director Neil Bruton.

"This is not a problem affecting a small number of rogue employers – it is a systemic failure of the employment permit system. Workers are afraid to speak up because their job and their right to remain in Ireland depends on their employer.

"The system must change so that people can stand up for themselves more easily.”

Around 38,000 people are estimated to be on a general employment permit in Ireland, which allows people to come to the country to work in a job that is not on the critical skills list if they meet certain requirements.

If you are a general employment permit holder in Ireland, then more likely than not you have been exploited at some point - Neil Bruton

The most common breaches identified in the survey include 35 per cent of workers being treated less favourably than colleagues because of their permit status; 27 per cent subjected to excessive working hours; 27 per cent denied proper breaks and 23 per cent who experienced harassment, verbal or physical abuse at work.

Healthcare assistants – the largest group surveyed, representing 45 per cent of respondents – had a 78 per cent exploitation rate. Female workers experienced higher rates of exploitation than male workers (76 per cent vs 66 per cent).

Across the board, of those who said they had been exploited, 51 per cent were too scared of losing their job or permit, and so did not report it.

Some workers reported being directly threatened with permit cancellation or deportation if they raised concerns. Of those who did report issues internally, the overwhelming majority saw no meaningful resolution.

For those who raised an issue with their employer, only 9 per cent had it resolved positively, with 61 per cent reporting no resolution and 19 per cent experiencing retaliation, threats or dismissal.

Just 3 per cent of those who experienced exploitation filed a formal complaint with the Workplace Relations Commission, highlighting the profound barriers to accessing formal redress.

Further, only 50 per cent of workers were aware they could urgently leave exploitative employment.

Simon, an MRCI activist and permit holder said: "Freedom to work in any job would have allowed me to escape severe exploitation and change jobs when I was badly treated, instead of feeling trapped.

"I was left with no job while I waited for a new permit, making it very difficult to live. We need more freedom to stand up for our rights."

MRCI said that the survey is representative of the estimated 38,000 general employment permit holders in Ireland and covers 58 nationalities across all major employment sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, agriculture, transport and construction.

I was left with no job while I waited for a new permit, making it very difficult to live - Simon, permit holder

Currently, the "change of employer" provision in the Employment Permits Act, introduced in June 2024, only allows movement to the same job type for the full five-year permit period.

MRCI are calling for the companies to grant all employment permit holders the freedom to work in any job after 2 years, and for the Government to introduce a new criminal offence for severe exploitation and ban exploitative employers from applying for future employment permits.