There were angry scenes outside the Labour Court in Dublin on Friday, when Construction Industry Federation members renewed their calls for a 10% pay cut in the sector - a move that could affect up to 190,000 workers.

More than a dozen protesters vented their opposition at CIF Director General Tom Parlon as he entered the court.

Police later arrived after a complaint Mr Parlon had been spat upon.

The SIPTU has accused developers and building bosses of making huge profits at the expense of low paid labourers.

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Both the union and CIF filed their submissions to the labour authority on Friday.

CIF officials have insisted over 55,000 jobs will be in jeopardy if pay cuts are not sanctioned.

Unions, objecting to the move, have instead insisted wages should be increased by 3.5%, inline with the national pay agreement.

Last year the National Employment Rights Authority found that 62% of construction employers inspected had breached employment laws - a point emphasised by the unions.

Construction sector salaries are regulated by the Registered Employment Agreement - a level which the CIF says employers can no longer afford.

Officials have claimed that with zero inflation and a recession, pay increases cannot be justified.

Both the government and IBEC rejected the terms of the agreement when it was negotiated last September.

(PR/JM)