The row over men taking home more pay than women continues, with research in Wales showing female workers in full-time jobs are 13% worse off.

The Equal Opportunities Commission has also highlighted that women in part-time employment, who make up a considerable percentage of the workforce in Wales, are 34% behind male colleagues.

Women face workplace challenges

The EOC study also showed prejudices among young people who believe that certain jobs remain the preserve of either men or women.

Researchers discovered that women workers find it hard to get training or are offered overtime.

Women who take career breaks to have children also found they were hindered in the workplace on their return.

But among the most worrying findings in the EOC report was the fact that employees were urged to be secretive about their earnings, creating hidden pay divisions in the workplace.

Crucially, the EOC found very little support or help for women workers who found they were being discriminated against.

'Taken the lead'

The body is now campaigning alongside the Welsh Assembly to ensure advice is readily available to workers on discrimination and the EOC is stepping up its efforts to close gender pay gaps.

EOC Wales director Kate Bennett said: "Wales has taken the lead in tackling the pay gap and promoting equality, assisted by the high profile of women in Welsh politics.

"In an election year, we will be pressing every political party to spell out its strategy for achieving further equality gains."

Earlier this year, equality group Chwarae Teg (Fair Play) indicated that more positive images of women in the workplace were becoming evident.

But the group concluded practical problems of providing childcare and looking after relatives remained a hindrance to some women.