GAMA Workers Seek Immediate Government Intervention To Secure Information And Access To Accounts

They Also Demand Immediate Publication Of Labour Inspectors’ Report

A photoessay and account of the GAMA Workers Protest at the Dáil
{ photos by redjade } ©

Turkish Workers’ Action Group Press Statement: Tuesday 12th April 2005

At a major protest at the Dáil at lunchtime on Tuesday 12th April, the Turkish workforce of the GAMA construction company, joined and supported by Irish construction and other workers, called upon the Government to intervene immediately to secure the necessary information for the workers in relation to the secret bank accounts that GAMA opened in their names in Finasbank, Holland. A call was made that the Government, through the Dutch Government or directly with Finansbank, ensure that by this weekend each worker has a full statement of his account since it was first opened. This means an account of each transaction and the total funds in each worker’s name.

Once they have this information, the workers are then seeking a commitment from the Government that it will oblige Finansbank, Holland to accept instructions from each worker on what they wish to do with their funds. In this way, the issue of information on the secret bank accounts could be resolved within days and the issue of workers’ access to the funds could be resolved within two weeks.

The GAMA workers are also calling for the publication of the report by the Labour Inspectorate, which Minister Michéal Martin has now received. GAMA has an injunction prohibiting the report being published and that has been continued until next Monday. This begs the question what GAMA is trying to hide by preventing the publication of the report.

GAMA workers have been subjected to a regime of massive exploitation since the firm came to Ireland in 2000. They are obliged to work for more than 80 hours per week on a basic wage rate of €2.20 an hour plus food and lodging in barrack accommodation. It is not just an issue of justice for these workers, but also a question of protecting trade union rates of pay and proper working conditions for all workers.

Please note: language problems make it impossible to give a contact person for the TWAG. However, Joe Higgins T.D. or Councillor Mick Murphy will confirm the information in this statement.

Joe Higgins, Tel: (01) 618 3038
Cllr. Mick Murphy, Tel: 086 9683814