Ireland: Undercover journalist describes exploitative working conditions in hotel, incl. lack of contract & 11-hour workdays without breaks
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“Undercover as a hotel cleaner in Ireland: ‘Lifting the heavy mattress, I cry tears of rage and exhaustion’”
…I had been interviewed online for the hotel cleaning job I applied for through an agency back in my home country, the Czech Republic. Did I mind that the hotel was in a secluded location with nothing to do in the evening, they’d asked me in the interview. I’d said no…I ask if he is leaving because of the low pay. He breathes in slowly and says that he’s leaving because of the stress…
At one point during our shift I manage to lose both Nina and Veronika. On finding them again I blurt out, in Slovak: “I couldn’t find you!”. “In English!” one of the managers, who is in the vicinity, shouts so loudly that I jump. Considering Veronika knows even less English than I do, it seems completely absurd to communicate in English…
…The hotel promised to pay her more than the minimum wage, but that promise was broken….
I ask my colleagues about contracts. “They won’t give you a contract. I had to pressure them for two and a half months to give me one….