There has been in a rise in cases of employers withholding wages from workers, according to data from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
The figures show that last year the WRC carried out 7,862 inspections and recovered nearly €2 million in unpaid wages for workers.
The 2023 figure is up almost a third on 2022 and twice what it was in 2021.
The WRC has recovered nearly €22 million in withheld workers' wages since 2011.
The data was released to Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Louise O’Reilly via a parliamentary question.
She has called for greater funding and resources for the WRC to help combat the problem.
"This data lifts the lid on a very disturbing practice," Ms O'Reilly said.
"The withholding of wages is particularly rampant in sectors where young people, women and migrant workers are highly employed – the food, drink, hotel, and retail sectors. These four sectors accounted for 62 per cent of all wages withheld last year – over €1.2 million."
"The WRC does fantastic work on behalf of employees across this state."
"The only way to combat this unscrupulous practice is to empower and fund the WRC to carry out a greater number of investigations across the whole economy," she added.
