Labour Split as Blair's MEPs Back Employment Rights for Illegal Immigrants
Wednesday, 25 October 2006
In a vote in the European Parliament yesterday Labour MEPs agreed that illegal immigrants should have the right to join trade unions, have access to legal aid and receive equal working rights such as maternity leave, paid holidays and access to employment tribunals.
Conservatives voted against the Labour proposal which " ... Calls on Member States, on the basis of their national legislation and international conventions to guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of immigrant women, whether or not their status is regular, particularly protection from enslavement and violence, education for children and migrant workers, access to emergency medical care, legal aid, equal treatment with regard to working conditions and the right to join trade unions."
Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Conservative leader in the European Parliament said:
"Is it Labour policy to give power to the EU over social rights for illegal immigrants?
"Is it Labour policy to permit people who have no right to be in the country the right to join trade unions, have access to legal aid and equal working rights?
Of course, we agree that people whose status is irregular should still be able to receive emergency health care and be protected from violence - these represent our values of tolerance - but these Labour proposals could be deeply damaging to the country's interests."
ENDS
