'The house was freezing cold, you wouldn’t sit in an open space – you’d be in bed': Zimbabwean care workers tell tribunal of conditions in shared accomodation

Eight care workers from Zimbabwe have testified before the Workplace Relations Commission regarding allegations of unpaid wages and financial exploitation linked to their recruitment by Unity Healthcare Services Ltd. The workers, represented by the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland, claim they paid between €2,000 and €3,600 each to secure work permits and travel to Ireland in late 2023 and early 2024, anticipating employment at a care facility planned for Virginia, County Cavan. They alleged the promised positions never materialised, leaving them in shared accommodation near the proposed centre with minimal or no income. Testifying this week, the complainants described freezing conditions in the staff house, difficulties obtaining work permits to seek alternative employment, and threats from company leadership regarding disclosure of circumstances. Some received limited payments or contributions toward living costs; others received nothing. The company disputes the complaints. The hearing has been adjourned pending testimony from a ninth complainant, with adjudication officer Breiffni O'Neill to issue a determination at a later date.