Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin responded yesterday to growing concerns about the treatment of migrant workers by announcing the appointment of 10 new labour inspectors to combat exploitation.
The move will be followed by further increases in staffing and resources for the labour inspectorate, Mr Martin indicated later at a meeting with union leaders.
The announcement coincided with a noisy and colourful demonstration outside Dáil Éireann by 250 employees of the Turkish firm, Gama Construction.
Workers' spokesman Enver Alan claimed Gama had made them work for more than 80 hours a week at rates of between €2.20 and just over €3 an hour.
He also said that the company never told workers about accounts in Finansbank in Amsterdam, into which a percentage of their salaries had been paid.
The company, which has been the subject of an investigation by the labour inspectorate, denies the claims. It has secured a temporary High Court injunction to prevent the inspectorate's report being published.
At a meeting yesterday with union leaders, Mr Martin said the Government would do all it could to ensure Finansbank provided the workers with full details of their accounts and information on how to access them.
A key demand of protesters was that this information be made available to them before the end of the week.
Announcing the increase in the labour inspectorate, Mr Martin said the additional staff would place a specific emphasis on sectors where migrant workers were concentrated.
This is the first time a minister for enterprise has acknowledged, albeit tacitly, that there is a specific problem in relation to the treatment of migrant workers.
Besides bringing the total number of inspectors to 31, a new team leader is also to be appointed, Mr Martin said.
Ictu general secretary David Begg, who led the union delegation, said the appointment of 11 new staff was "a good step forward" but there was a lot more to be done.
An internal department report had recommended that the number of inspectors be increased to 50 and that the onus of proof to show they are compliant with the law be shifted on to employers, he said.
Details of the report were revealed in The Irish Times on Friday.
Siptu president Jack O'Connor, who also attended the meeting, said the announcement was "very belated" given that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment had blocked moves to significantly increase the number of inspectors last year.
Meanwhile, workers at Gama Construction said they intend to continue their campaign for improved pay and conditions and access to any money held in their names in Finansbank.
Passers-by at Leinster House were treated to the unusual spectacle of protesters chanting loudly in Turkish.
The chants included "Ga-ma! Ali Baba!" and "Vur Vur Inlesin! Gama Bizi Dinlesin!", which loosely translates as a call on those present to shout loudly enough for Gama to hear them.
Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins, who has been closely involved in the workers' campaign, claimed they had been subjected to "vile exploitation".
In a statement distributed at the protest, the Turkish Workers' Action Group said the labour inspectorate's report should be published and questioned what Gama was "trying to hide" by preventing its release.
