Press Release on Crisis Fund and Human Rights

In the wake of the tragic death of a Polish Migrant at Christmas, NICEM calls for the Government to protect vulnerable minorities with no access to public funds.

The Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities is deeply saddened at the death of Robert Kowalski, a 30 year old Polish man, known to suffer from alcoholism, who died  of exposure to the bitterly cold conditions during the Christmas period.

The case of Mr Kowalski echoes the tragic situation of Oksana Sukhanova, 27, a migrant worker from the Ukraine who had both her legs amputated following horrific injuries gained as a result from sleeping rough in Coleraine in 2005. Like Mr. Kowalski, Ms Sukhanova was also destitute; following this incident the government did make improvements to the entitlement of benefits for workers registered under the Workers Registration Scheme but did not adequately address the issue of those facing destitution and who fall outside of these provisions.

NICEM calls upon the Government to urgently adopt recommendations from the Human Rights Commission investigative report on homelessness for people with no or limited access to public funds.[1] These recommendations require any governmental approach in this area to mirror international human rights standards, including that everyone has the right to access appropriate emergency accommodation. In addition, if the government implemented a strong and inclusive Bill of Rights (as agreed in the St. Andrews Agreement) which guaranteed everyone within the territory of the UK the right to an adequate standard of living, further tragedies could be prevented.

In light of the economic downturn leading to more migrants losing their jobs and thus heightening the potential for tragedy, NICEM strongly  recommends that OFMDFM set up a crisis fund to assist those workers who have been made unemployed but are unable to access public funds. Such measures would reduce the risk of poverty and ultimate destitution. Currently Charitable organisations mostly provide such support. However, with very limited funds and no formalised procedures, those most vulnerable are often unable to access the help they desperately need.

We also call upon the Department of Health to extend their Misuse of Drugs and Alcohol Scheme to Migrants. In times of economic downturn migrant workers face compounded vulnerability accentuated by unemployment and mental health problems. Often the accommodation arrangements of migrant workers are tied to their jobs and as such they are more likely to become homeless if they become unemployed. 

Preventative measures and support mechanisms would not only avert tragedy but would also lessen the strain on the budget to deal with such tragedy in the long run.

Migrant workers are essential to the economic recovery of Northern Ireland and so their Human Rights should be fully respected.