Construction firms to face Labour Court on worker exploitation claims

ONE of the country’s largest trade unions says it is preparing to bring six Waterford-based firms before the Labour Court for alleged exploitation of foreign workers in the construction sector.

SIPTU says it is concerned that one of the firms has informed the Labour Court it was de-registering as a company when it was contacted by the Court.

Davy Lane, of SIPTU’s South East Construction Branch, said he believed the move by the company was motivated by the threatened action. SIPTU has alleged that company is breaching industrial relations legislation by underpaying three labourers.