Better pay for interpreters called for
Better pay for interpreters has been called for in Ireland going into the New Year.
Cork language specialists Translit made the call as it says the sector is providing a vital service especially with the “everchanging face of Irish society”.
The interpreting and translation company, who also have offices in Limerick, work with thousands of interpreters worldwide and are looking to collaborate with the Government and Irish Translators and Interpreters Association (ITIA) to improve the sector in 2023.
The company said previous census data has shown almost 200 different language are spoken across the State while Ireland has saw a shift in the amount of refugees moving to the country in recent years and with the war in Ukraine, nearly 60,000 Ukrainians were added to that list this year, some of whom now work as translators.
Translit CEO Alex Chernenko, who is a Ukraine native and former interpreter, said it’s time for a collaborative effort, especially when there is an energy, housing, and cost of living crisis.
He explained: “We know the hardships that many interpreters are facing at this time of the year and it’s important that they get renumerated for the difficult job they undertake on a day-to-day basis.
“Unless you are working with a big European body, you are lucky to be making €20,000 a year as a freelance interpreter in Ireland today. Interpreters who work on-site, have to travel to venues and the time travelling isn’t normally paid for. They may be gone for 4 or 5 hours but only one is a billable hour, the rest won’t be covered.
“But these people work in hospitals, they work in garda stations, in courts, all without being recognised as important members of society.
“At Translit we do pay expenses because we know how crucial they are from over a decade of working alongside them.
“I am an interpreter myself, I used to speak 6 languages and interpreted for years before I set up Translit.”
Mr Chernenko said he wants to work with the Government and ITIA to improve everything across the board but he added this starts with pay and needs to start now.