The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has strongly criticised the Government for failing to support new EU legislation aimed at securing better terms and conditions for agency workers.
The new draft directive would have given temporary workers the same pay and conditions as full-time staff after a period of six weeks.
Trade unions fear that agency workers are being used instead of direct employees to force down pay.
However, at a meeting in Brussels yesterday four EU member states, including Ireland, opposed the measure.
Labour Affairs Minister Billy Kelleher said the new directive could undermine competitiveness in Ireland.
General Secretary of the ICTU David Begg said he was extremely resentful of the Government's attitude.
He said the Department of Agriculture was there to help farmers - but what he called the Department of Labour had nothing to do with helping workers.
