Only seven new labour inspectors out of a promised 59 have been appointed since February last year, the Green Party claimed today.
The party accused the Government of "failing to take worker exploitation seriously".
The party's enterprise and employment spokesman, Eamon Ryan, said: "Last year we were promised that a fully resourced team of 90 inspectors would be operational around the country by the end of 2007, yet to date only seven inspectors have been appointed and none of these have been assigned outside of Dublin.
"Indeed the seven new inspectors only took up their positions last Monday," he said.
"In a year that has seen countless revelations of appalling worker exploitation and abuse . . . it is unacceptable that the Government has adopted such a laid-back approach to establishing a proper system of oversight and protection," Mr Ryan said.