Salary discrimination against women remains widespread across Europe according to a report issued today.
While women in Ireland do relatively well in terms of salary, they are still under-represented in senior management positions.
The report by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) claims that salary discrimination of up to 35 per cent against women exists across Europe. It also found what are described as unacceptable levels of child exploitation in many European countries.
According to the report, women workers are concentrated in low-paid and part-time work. The net average salary for women in Ireland is 83 per cent of the national average, while in Belgium it is around 84 per cent.
The earnings gap between men and women in the UK however stands at 25 per cent.
The report also found that children in countries like Portugal and Spain were working up to 14 hours a day in the tourism, textile, construction and clothing industries although confirmed incidents are steadily falling.
The report's author Mr Colin Harker said in general, working conditions in Ireland in relation to women and children were good and no serious issues had came to light during the drafting of the report.