The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) saw a record increase in claims last year relating to migrant workers' wages, the body's annual report reveals.
Publishing its annual report for 2004, the LRC said its Rights Commissioner service received some 1,500 claims under the Payment of Wages Act.
Some 94 per cent of the claims from migrant workers on issues such as wages, holidays, public holidays and Sunday premium payments were successful.
LRC chief executive Kieran Mulvey
According to the LRC, the “overwhelming majority” of such claimants do not receive written terms of employment, and many do not receive payslips.
The LRC has commissioned independent research on the position of migrant workers in Ireland and their access to the industrial relations institutions.
LRC chief executive Kieran Mulvey said: “The LRC, through its Rights Commissioner Service, provides a genuinely effective avenue for workers to ensure that they are afforded their rights under 18 separate pieces of employment legislation."
There were some 6,000 referrals to the LRC's conciliation, rights commissioner and advisory services last year.
Maurice Cashell, chairman of the LRC, said the rate of referral demonstrated the centrality of the commission’s services to the conduct of relationships in Irish workplaces.
“Most of the work that the commission does is not of a nature that grabs headlines. But it is the constant availability of effective service from the commission which ensures that Irish industrial relations is no longer notable for conflict leading to disputes affecting production or services,” he said.
There were just 11 strikes in the Irish economy last year, the lowest dispute activity on record, the LRC report said.
However, Mr Cashell warned against “complacency” on the issue. “Ireland’s competitors in the global economy are also in a position to record low levels of industrial dispute activity."
Minister for Labour Affairs Mr Tony Killeen attended an event in Dublin marking the publication of the report today.
He said: "Our industrial relations stability is a key factor in attracting and retaining investment into Ireland. It is essential that we maintain this stability in order to continue to compete for inward investment and the continued growth of our indigenous sector."