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.

SIPTU, along with ICTU general secretary David Begg, were also given assurances at yesterday’s meeting that labour law prosecutions against Gama can be taken regardless of whether an injuncted Government report is ultimately published.

However, Mr O’Connor called for a complete reorganisation of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with a completely new and separate department dedicated only to labour affairs.

Mr Martin said the new inspectors would be dedicated to investigating issues of migrant labour.