Dr. Laura Bambrick:

No, it is not an area I work in, but I will give the Deputy a tip. The WRC publishes an annual report each year and that is rich in detail on the types of cases taken although it does not include the people who are frustrated by the system and who do not even get to bring a case. The report outlines the types of cases brought before the WRC and the timeline. As I said, it not an area in which I work, but in other fora I encounter colleagues who do work in this area and at every opportunity, they make the case for increasing the number of labour inspectors proportionate to the massive growth in the size of the workforce. It is not just that unemployment has decreased. We have more people than ever before at work and the number of labour inspectors should be proportionate. We regularly hear that the systems have changed, adapted and modernised. In theory, labour inspectors do not need to visit every workplace.

Labour inspectors do not in theory have to visit every workplace. Particular work spaces, where there are odds of non-compliance - the withholding of wages, people working above the maximum hours and not receiving their break and bogus self-employed - are heavily targeted. The Department and inspectors are now working across different agencies and Departments. That is to be welcomed but we still say it should be scaled up to be done proportionate to the workforce.