Serious measures to combat "growing exploitation" in the labour market have been called for by the new leader of SIPTU, Mr Jack O'Connor.
He is scheduled to take over today as general president of the country's largest union, in succession to Mr Des Geraghty, who has retired having reached the age of 60.
Mr O'Connor criticised the fact that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment had only 17 inspectors to monitor compliance with minimum employment standards.
Tackling exploitation is one of the key areas he has promised to address as SIPTU president.
Aged 46, he received the largest vote in SIPTU's history when he was elected vice-president of the union in 2000.
He accepted an invitation from the union's executive last month to fill the vacancy caused by Mr Geraghty's retirement.
Mr O'Connor will remain in the post for at least the remainder of his six-year term as a general officer of SIPTU.
However, it is expected that both he and the union's 45-year-old general secretary, Mr Joe O'Flynn, could lead the union for the next 15 years or so.
