Ireland's future prosperity "will be built on high-quality jobs, not low employment standards," the Labour Party said today.
Former party leader and enterprise spokesman Ruairí Quinn said: "The protection and enhancement of labour standards is an economic, as well as a social, imperative for any responsible government."
In a strong attack on the Government, he said it had "buried its head in the sand" in combatting the "race to the bottom" in employment standards.
He said the Office of Corporate Enforcement was not properly resourced and the 90 labour inspectors promised in the latest social partnership deal had yet to materialise.
"Until recently we had more dog wardens than labour inspectors," Mr Quinn said.
Enterprise and innovation were needed to remain competitive in the global economy. This required a high-skilled workforce that should be well paid, and have good employment conditions and protections.
It was appropriate, Mr Quinn added, that the party was publishing its proposals on Europe Day considering the positive effect EU membership has had on labour rights.
At the launch of A Fair Place to Work, candidate for Dublin South, Alex White said effective laws and effective enforcement were the key to ensuring "the highest possible standards for all those working in this country".
He referred to "the scandalous exploitation" of workers at construction firm Gama as an example of the failure of Government to establish adequate employment protections.
Up to €30 million in wages and allowances was withheld from hundreds of foreign national workers at the company leading to industrial action, accusations of intimidation and even a threat of hunger strike.
He noted that since 2004 there had been no prosecutions for failing to pay the Minimum Wage despite evidence that thousands of people were not receiving the statutory minimum.
Labour's plan also includes proposals for encouraging greater workplace flexibility; improved paid parental leave; a legal right to career breaks; and a right to part time work.
"There must be a greater element of choice that will enable families to combine the need to earn a living with the need to care for others," Mr White said.
He also noted that a recent Europe-wide survey showed Ireland is among the lowest-ranking EU countries for annual leave.
He said Labour was the party in government to establish an extra day off and this time around proposed a right to a further two days off.