A/HRC/4/24 page 22 country, they can still continue to participate in such legal procedures or be represented by an agent nominated by them in court. Finally, migrant workers are free to join trade unions and enjoy the benefits of collective bargaining. 120. In Singapore, only persons granted lawful stay are entitled to social welfare services, shelter and employment. 121. In Spain, migrants, regardless of their administrative situation, are provided with the right to free primary education (for children under 18); free legal assistance in case they do not have enough financial resources; and the right to medical assistance. 122. The Syrian Arab Republic does not provide to non-nationals social insurance. Under the law, non-nationals are not allowed to participate in unions or the judiciary. The language of legal proceedings is usually Arabic. However, exceptions are made for the proceedings to be in French or English. 123. In Turkey, non-nationals and Turkish citizens have the same rights with regard to elementary education; as far as emergency cases are involved, medical assistance is extended to all non-nationals deprived of adequate financial means and according to the Law on Residence and Travel of Aliens in Turkey. All non-nationals, including refugees and asylum-seekers, possessing residence permits valid for at least six months can apply to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for a work permit. F. Protection of migrants Question: Please provide information on existing mechanisms and procedures (for example, national human rights institutions, or mediation by certain officials) in your country that can be used by migrants who complain of abuse and of conditions that may exist for migrants seeking to use such mechanisms (for example, complaints have to be made in certain languages, etc.). Responses 124. A number of countries have established national mechanisms in order to provide protection to migrants in their territory. 125. For example, the Government of Argentina provides interpretation services to migrants who may need them in order to carry out the pertinent administrative procedures in the National Direction of Migrations. Migrants can also find protection in the various Ombudsman institutions. 126. In Australia, the Commonwealth Ombudsman discharges the core function of handling complaints from members of the public about immigration administration. The Immigration Ombudsman role has a number of other strands, some of which are at an early or very early stage of implementation in developing an inspection/monitoring function in relation to detention, both for people held in detention facilities and in community detention. On the other hand, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) is a national independent statutory government body, which is responsible for the investigation and attempted resolution of complaints about breaches of human rights and anti-discrimination legislation.