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.