The Labour Party has proposed a range of new measures to protect employment standards against a 'race to the bottom' fuelled by the use of migrant workers.
Party leader Pat Rabbitte said that unless such measures were adopted, it might become necessary to introduce employment permits for workers coming from the new EU member states.
The party calls for reform of the existing work permit system so it does not bind workers to a particular employers.
It also wants more resources for the Labour Inspectorate, and targeted Revenue inspections of sub-contractors and agencies in the construction sector.
Labour also calls on local authorities and other public bodies to insist that contractors working for them meet minimum labour standards. It also backs 'significant change' to the EU Services Directive.
