Let Foreign Students Keep their Right to Work

national | racism & migration related issues | news report

Wednesday February 09, 2005 17:31

by Joe C - GR

solidarityjoe at yahoo dot com

087 9032281

Protest: Saturday 3pm GPO

On April 18th 2005, new foreign students studying English in Ireland will no longer be able to work part time for 20 hours per week. Students already here before that date will only be allowed one more year. This will affect people from outside the European Union- Chinese, Asian, Russian, and Latin American students amongst others.

These students pay their tax and contribute to the building of the Irish economy. They often work the hardest and most lowly paid jobs. Many Irish friends believe they should be treated better, and that they should be allowed to keep their right to work. Otherwise, the only people who will be able to study in Ireland will be the very rich.

Please join the picket at the GPO this Saturday. Organise your school, workmates and friends to come. Make banners and placards- we will continue to meet every Saturday for an hour at the GPO to make sure our voice gets heard- there are over 50,000 students affected. If we organise more schools and students every week, the Irish government will have to listen to our voice.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND WORKMATES
GET POSTERS AND LEAFLETS FOR YOUR SCHOOL

JOIN THE PICKET AT THE GPO
EVERY SATURDAY FOR AN HOUR FROM 3PM TO 4PM

BERTIE AHERN and Irish Education representatives recently travelled to China to make business
deals and encourage Chinese students to come and study here in Irish Universities. But just before Christmas the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell removed the right to work for students from outside the European Economic Area who are attending part-time courses under one year duration.

This affects English Language courses. Thousands of students, particularly Chinese (who make up
almost 80% of students in these courses) will not be able to afford to do such courses if they cannot work. They will be forced to return home due to economic pressures. It also puts the jobs of up to 3,000
English Language teachers under threat.

The Chinese government issued a warning at the start of this month against students considering English language study in Ireland. Enterprise Ireland excluded representatives of the English Language sector from the education forum in China.

The Irish government instead wants to attract wealthy Chinese who will pay up to e20,000 in fees
to attend universities and thus be cash cows for the funding crisis in Irish universities.
Ahern expressed concerns about human rights in China yet here at home he is removing the right of
students to work and putting in danger the jobs of English Language teachers.

Students and teachers of all nationalities will unite and protest for the right to work on Saturday April 16th, two days before the decision is expected to be enforced. There will be a picket and organising stall every Saturday until then at the GPO from 3pm to 4pm.