Casual work, black labour

Another frequent form of violating the rights of Roma workers in the world of labour is when people are recruited generally for earthwork or constructions, then after months of working under inhuman conditions without a labour contract, they do not receive their wages. Although damaging Romas is not the direct purpose of the employer, it is our point of view, that indirect discrimination occurs, for the injured parties in cases like this are usually of Roma origin (besides foreign blackleg workers), considering that they are highly represented among unskilled employees with low levels of education, who can enforce their interests with great difficulties. These types of infringements of rights primarily affect Roma people living in rural areas with constant unemployment, in hopeless situation, who are the most defenceless.

Proceedings are currently going on in 2 such cases. In one case 10 Roma and non-Roma men living around Ózd have worked on the construction of an industrial park first in Győr, then in Budapest. The kft did not sign a labour contract with them, even though the 10 men were constantly asking him for it. The workers accommodated first in an apartment, then in a workers’ hostel under inhuman conditions. As it turned out their employer did not even pay for their accommodation, so on the last day they had to leave through the window, as the hostel was demanding the money from them. They have not received their full wages up to this day. In our other case they were looking for men for gaspipe-laying earthwork in Miskolc. Our Roma client has signed a contract with the contractor according to which he sent the constructor 14-16 people a day for 3 months. He paid the travel and eating expenses of these people himself and also worked together with them. The foreman countersigned the work they had done every day and accepted the invoice of the final sum after the completion of the work. However the money has not been transferred to the plaintive, he was constantly led on, then after a couple of months, his invoice was sent back to him in an envelope. Our client’s wages have also not been paid, his costs have not been reimbursed, so he could not pay the minimally 25 people whom he had organised for the whole summer. All damaged parties in this case are of Roma origin.