The Government has promised more swoops of building sites to tackle labour abuses of migrant workers
The Minister for Labour Affairs, Mr Tony Killeen, said the number of labour inspectors had increased from 17 to 21 and he promised over 7,000 work-site inspections during 2005.
He was responding to a Dáil question on the issue by Labour's Mr Brendan Howlin, who claimed that journalists and unions were doing the minister's job by exposing and resolving abuses pay and conditions among EU and non-EU workers.
Mr Howlin referred to media reports which found that Polish nationals working on Dublin's Port Tunnel were being paid half what their Irish workmates were being paid.
The workers were entitled to free accommodation and flights home but did not receive holiday pay or overtime.
Mr Howlin claimed that the Labour Inspectorate body carried out 30 per cent fewer inspections in 2004 (5,160) compared to 2003 (7,168).
"At a time when there are huge numbers of additional workers coming into our economy, we are carrying out less inspections and less monitoring of conditions," he said.
The Wexford TD added that the Polish Embassy was inundated with complaints from its citizens on working conditions and that the Migrant Rights Centre had also reported "a more scandalous" situation for non-EU citizens. "It's the minister's job to be proactive and to have sufficient inspections and he shouldn't leave it to investigative journalists or trade union activists to do his job."
Mr Killeen urged workers with complaints to contact the Department or the Labour Inspectorate with specific information.
The Clare TD added: "Labour inspectors go to huge lengths to pursue cases but they do need to have the evidence to put before the courts to effect successful prosecutions." He said he had increased the number of inspectors from 17 to 21 and vowed that the number of inspections should exceed previous years.
The Building and Allied Trades Union (BATU) said Eastern European workers were being exploited on building sites under a system of "bonded slavery".
The union said it was aware of at least two cases where workers were being paid less than half the industry rates and unfairly charged for accommodation and utility bills.
"What has been allowed to develop here is a system of bonded labour, reminiscent of, and worse than, the conditions Irish workers endured on building sites in Britain in the 1950s and '60s," said regional organiser Mr Andrew Smith.
He said that in Mullingar, County Westmeath, 12 Polish and Lithuanian workers had received only one week's wages for three week's work and had been expelled from their accommodation after they had stopped work in protest.
The sub-contracting company which employed the workers was not available from comment.
Mr Smith said the union was also dealing with Lithuanian workers in Ballina, Co Mayo who had not been paid wages and were being accommodated in caravans. "The local members have had to get food and extra blankets for them," he said.
He said that many workers from the EU accession states were being exploited by employers who promised them good wages but then gave them 'take it or leave it' offers once they arrived.
The workers are not entitled to social welfare benefits under Irish law.
Mr Smith said there was a danger that poorly paid workers would erode the wages and rights of existing workers. "I don't want to see all Irish builders out of work and men working like slaves on site instead of them. It took a lot of work to get these rights," he said.