Subcontractors in Dublin who fail to comply with terms and conditions for their employees have been been shown the 'red card' by workers and campaigners.

Last week, a group of workers and trade union organisers handed out 'red cards' to workers entering the Hanover Quay site, as well as to members of the public, as part of the 'Show Non-compliance the Red Card' campaign.

Each card contained issues associated with non-compliance in the construction industry, such as paying workers below legal pay rates, not contributing to pension and sickness schemes and employing people as bogus self-employed.

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SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Regan, said over the last few weeks the group has assembled outside several other sites where there are reports of non-compliance.

"A major issue is contractors not complying with the terms of the Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) for the construction industry," he said.

"An SEO is a legally binding instrument which governs minimum rates of payment, hours of work and employer contributions into sickness and pension schemes as well as other benefits.

"Subcontractors failing to meet their legal obligations to workers not only affects those directly involved but also means less taxes to pay for public services and good compliant businesses losing out on contracts because they are undercut by rogue employers.

"The message should be clear to such rogue employers in the construction industry. Unless you change what you are doing the 'Show Non-compliance the Red Card' campaign will be paying your site a visit. Following that legal action will be taken to enforce compliance on your site."

(LM/MH)