Granting data protection rights to immigrants will help them overcome their fear of being targeted when they voice their fears over discrimination, according to the chairman of Aditus, the human rights NGO.

“Equal treatment is a human right and not a charity,” said Neil Falzon in his first reaction to the call for such rights by the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency.

“Data protection could benefit migrants in all areas and, hopefully, help them overcome their fear of being targeted once they complain,” said Mr Falzon.

The EU agency said in a report published last week that promoting the data protection rights of irregular migrants could help combat cheap labour and exploitation by abusive employers. It said many immigrants were afraid of reporting abuses for fear they would be prosecuted for staying or working illegally.

Andrew Mizzi, secretary of the General Workers Union’s section representing migrant workers, also welcomed the suggestion.

He said the persistent problem was that migrants were not always provided with their boss’s correct details and, therefore, were not paid for their work because their employer was untraceable.

The director of the Jesuit Refugee Service, Katrine Camilleri, also argued that the measure “would go some way to strengthening the protection of this very vulnerable category of workers”.

JRS often meets migrants employed illegally who are afraid to report exploitation or abuse fearing the consequences.