The pay gap between women working part-time and men working full-time has not narrowed in 25 years, the Equal Opportunities Commission has claimed.

Women in part-time jobs earn on average 40 per cent an hour less than men doing a full 40-hour week compared to a gap of just seven per cent in the Netherlands, said Commission chief executive Caroline Slocock.

She explained the discrepancy was largely due to employers' refusal to offer flexible hours in higher-paid posts and was particularly pronounced in the financial sector.

Ms Slocock said: "Women are still experiencing discrimination at work. People often want flexible working when they have children but the opportunities available are often not fully using their skills and poorly paid."

Monday July 19, 2004