Mr O'Leary is known as a boss who expects employees to work hard

Ryanair is being targeted by trade unions that say they want to protect the working rights of employees at the low-cost airline.

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) on Tuesday launches a website called www.ryan-be-fair.org.

It aims to give employees a forum to discuss issues they may have with the firm, as well as offering advice and contact with worker representatives.

Ryanair countered by saying its staff are better paid than ITF members.

Take-home pay

The company said that its employees earn an average of 50,582 euros (�33,948) a year.

According to Ryanair's figures, workers at rival Easyjet make 41,384 euros a year on average, while Germany's Lufthansa pays 41,377 euros and BA spends 37,602.

The ITWF says that it is less a question of pay levels and more about giving workers a voice.

"This is a new campaign tool for an old problem," said ITF General Secretary David Cockroft. "Ryanair claims it is not anti-union, it's pro-employee.