The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) carried out more than 14,000 inspections last year and recovered more than €2.5 million in arrears for workers.
The figures were revealed at the launch of a new publicity campaign by the authority aimed at informing workers of their rights.
Director of NERA Ger Deering
The NERA said the inspections were part of several targeted campaigns aimed at enforcing the minimum wage, protecting young workers and the construction sector.
The authority, which was only set up last year to secure compliance with employment rights legislation, has already received 93,000 calls from members of the public querying various aspects of employment law.
Some 98 cases have been referred to the Chief State Solicitor's Office.
The authority aims to reach 85 per cent of the population with a 12-month publicity campaign which will disseminate information through radio and television adverts as well as on billboards and in the print media.
As part of the campaign, the NERA has established a website - www.employmentrights.ie - as a resource for employers and employees alike.
Director of NERA Ger Deering said, "We want to make sure that every employee knows what their employment rights are, that every employer knows their responsibilities and that all are aware of how to find out about them."
"Of course, providing information is only one aspect of NERA's work and we are also saying to people to get informed because it's the law and where issues of non compliance are detected NERA will act to address them," he said.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin said: "The campaign marks another important step in ensuring that employers know their responsibilities and that workers know their rights."
