Irish women earning 20% less than men, says EU

IRELAND has been slated by the EU for continuing pay discrimination against women who earn, on average, one-fifth less than men.

The lack of affordable childcare places and the greater likelihood of women ending up in menial jobs and poverty were also highlighted by the EU’s annual Employment in Europe report.

It sounds a warning that the current slowdown and the resulting increase in unemployment is mostly hitting the country’s poorer regions.

Under EU measurements of employment trends, the EU has set itself a target of 70% employment by 2010 but Ireland is just ninth on the scale with a total employment rate for 2001 of 65.7%.

Ireland topped the EU league for the fastest growth in employment last year despite the slowdown in growth.

But the report highlighted the significant pay gap between men and women, the lack of affordable child care, lifelong learning and in-company training.

It warns Ireland will have to make strenuous efforts to tackle the gender pay gap.

Women working in the private sector fare worst, getting just over 75% of men’s pay rates. Those employed by the State are still discriminated against, earning 10% less than their male counterparts.

Irish women are also the most likely in the EU to end up in a cycle of low-paid work, unemployment and labour market exclusion and are at a high risk of poverty, according to the report.

There has been progress in providing childcare places but there is still a major lack of affordable childcare, the report notes.

It describes as discouraging the delay in finalising an overall strategic framework for lifelong learning.

The report notes that unemployment has hit the poorer Border, Midlands and Western regions worse than other better-off regions.

It states the social partnership has been a strong factor in employment success but it could be further strengthened by increasing the regional and local dimension.