Irish company Top Security has unveiled a suite of services that will allow employers to keep tabs on employees using those GPS systems.

"People are increasingly working in a mobile environment. Gone are the days when you could look out onto the shop floor and check on them, " said Emmet O'Rafferty, executive chairman.

"Business needs to control people in order to be productive."

The company is also offering a panic alarm service linked to mobile and landline phones that will allow users to hit one button that will allow pre-selected contacts to hear what's going on and track the person's location.

The service can also alert contacts if the person's mobile phone doesn't arrive at a pre-selected point by a given time. This last will be great for personal security . . .

bank managers and shop owners who get hijacked . . .

but will also be useful for making sure that workers aren't secretly dossing down the pub.

One can also imagine applications for ensuring that teenagers are home before curfew and for checking on elderly parents.