PDFORRA is seeking the extension of EU directives on working hours to include service in the Defence Forces.
Delegates were told yesterday that soldiers serving along the Border are working up to 70 hours a week.
The association's deputy general secretary, Mr Gerry Rooney, said the Government had already the forces from the provisions arising from EU directives on health and safety.
These establish that the working week be limited to 48 hours although this can be averaged over a four-month period.
Mr Rooney said: "This EU directive provides that, where added flexibility may be required the workers concerned must be afforded equivalent compensatory rest or, in exceptional cases, where it is not possible to grant such rest, they must be given appropriate protection.
"There seems to be no movement on planning for such a situ at ion in the Defence Forces. This is a basic human right. Serving members of the Defence Forces are not robots, they are human beings and they can only cope with so much."
The association's general secretary, Mr John Lucey, also said the extra productivity arising from extended security duties, particularly along the Border, was not being recognised.
"The soldier is perceived as cheap labour. He does not receive overtime and he is told what to do and must obey without question. We give him medals but medals do not feed children and pay mortgages. Is this the way to treat faithful servants of the State?"