50 new labour inspectors needed, says SIPTU boss

THE Government’s labour inspectorate needs more than 50 new inspectors to adequately tackle labour abuses, SIPTU president Jack O’Connor said yesterday.

Emerging from a meeting with Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin, at which 11 new inspectors were announced, Mr O’Connor said the move was a small step in the right direction from a department which had previously blocked any increase in labour inspectors.

“We have to establish here in this county a proper inspectorate - somewhere between 50 and 75 inspectors - the powers of the inspectorate have to be enhanced and the penalties for non-compliance with the laws have to be substantially increased,” he said.