Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

If I am reading the regulations correctly, I note it is an offence for an employee to provide incorrect details of his or her working hours. It is of particular concern that the detail and reporting of the working conditions of migrant workers could be easily amended to suit the legislation, when they might not be earning the €7 per hour minimum wage, apropos of what happened in the case of the tragedy on the Lancashire coast recently where migrant workers were working for incredibly low rates. Have any of the convictions related to a case where an employee knowingly provided incorrect details of his or her working hours? How can the Minister of State provide assurances that the Labour inspectorate can check the proper hours record in the case particularly of migratory workers who are fearful of their status and their work permits are held by their employers who are in a strong position? What assurances can he give that we are getting a full and frank picture of the working conditions of migrant workers?

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