Report on under-payment of migrant workers due

A report into a Turkish construction firm which underpaid migrant workers is to be handed to the Government in the coming days, it emerged tonight.

Multinational building company, Gama, last month admitted underpaying employees but blamed a book-keeping error for the payment of low wages.

Gama said mistakes in payroll procedures for salaries had led to expatriate staff receiving less than they were due.

The Department of Trade and Enterprise confirmed tonight that a report had been compiled and would be forwarded to Minister Micheál Martin in the coming days.

After weeks of evidence, interviews and information being gathered by the Labour Inspectorate it is understood Gama could face a second inquiry into alleged breaches of employment rights in the firm.

An investigation was launched by officials at the Department of Enterprise after Joe Higgins TD raised questions in the Dáil about its employment practices. The department also refused to issue any more work permits for foreign employees.

Mr Higgins, Dublin West TD, accused Gama Construction of employing Turkish workers on lower wages and longer hours than their Irish counterparts and treating them like modern-day “bonded labour”.

Gama has invested hundreds of millions of euro in Ireland over the last five years securing a number of lucrative roads and construction contracts.

The company employs more than 10,000 workers across Europe, the Middle East and Asia with its Irish base Gama Construction Ireland securing several sought-after projects including the Ennis bypass, Shannonbridge power station and local authority housing schemes.