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Project Focus: Migrant Worker Equality

Project Location: Rural Northern Ireland

ANIMATE ran for three years between 2004 and 2007 as a three-year partnership project between statutory (state) bodies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs- often referred to as the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland). The two organisations who established Animate were the South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP- NGO) and Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council (local government). The projects other statutory partners are the two other local government Councils in the projects geographical area and bodies dealing with Health and Social Services, Housing and Education.
Who are the Project Partners?

Geographical Area
The project covered the Dungannon, Craigavon and Cookstown district council areas in Counties Tyrone and Armagh in rural Northern Ireland. The Project office is situated in Dungannon
Where is this?

Aims and Remit
The Project aimed to reduce exploitation of, and prejudice towards migrant workers, to empower migrant workers and improve service delivery and conditions for migrant workers. The Project’s role was strategic and it was not involved in the direct service delivery or coal-face client work which is undertaken by project partners.
Specific Project Aims and Tasks.

Context Of Animate
From the year 2000 on the trend of outward migration to the tri-Council area had been stemmed by incoming migrant workers filling skills and labour shortages in the local economy in agriculture, food processing, engineering, nursing and other areas. Migrant workers were initially mainly Portuguese and Tetum speakers but also from 2004 on increasing numbers from Poland, Lithuania, other EU accession states and elsewhere. This represented a vital opportunity to retain local industry and regenerate the local economy which took place and is ongoing. Migrant workers from the Philippines and elsewhere are also plugging shortages in nursing and medicine the health service.

Despite this the experiences of migrant workers were not all positive. There was evidence that workers are being exploited and they have been subject to varying degrees of prejudice, racism and hostility. All of which required redress. Inward migration also provides challenges to service providers to ensure equality of access and outcome in relation to service provision.

Project Structure:
The Project had two staff a Project Manager, Daniel Holder and a Clerical Officer Carla McClafferty. The Project is overseen by a Strategic Stakeholders Forum consisting of the formal Project Partners . The Project also sits on migrant worker forums and other groups across the tri council area. The Project is funded under the Outreach Programme of the Department of Social Development.