Workplace equality - Gender pay gap must be addressed

EU moves to create pay parity between men and women will have a major impact on business and industry in Ireland if the wage gap between the sexes is to be bridged.

Estimates of the size of the pay gap here vary wildly and according to the EU women in Ireland earn 9% less than men. But according to ICTU, the trade union umbrella group, this figure contradicts the Government’s National Women’s Strategy which recorded a 14% pay gap. This compares badly with Slovenia where the gap is 11%, the smallest in the EU.

Reportedly, the Republic’s pay gender gap dropped from 20% in 1995 to 9% in 2005, with Cyprus and Estonia having the largest pay gaps at 25%.