WOMEN in the North-East are getting a raw deal at work, according to new figures.

The Women at Work report, compiled by the Northern TUC, reveals that 37 per cent of women feel they have been discriminated against at work.

It also shows that, on average, full-time female manual workers take home a weekly wage worth just 62 per cent of that of their male colleagues, despite the fact that they are often more qualified.

According to the statistics, the lowest paid employees in the region are part-time workers and there are more than four times as many women in this type of work than men.

Toshie Habu, Northern TUC Equalities project worker, who compiled the report, said: "Equality means equal access to education and training and it means giving proper benefits and fair wages to part-time workers, who are often women.

"Equality also means taking the work-life balance seriously and employers need to be sensitive to the fact that many of their workers will have family responsibilities."

Women at Work is based on extensive research into the working lives of women in the North-East, including survey responses, interviews and focus groups, as well as reports from unions and Government statistics.

The report contains a number of recommendations, including encouraging employers to develop training packages designed to boost women's confidence.

There are also proposals for a regional website for women, containing information about mentoring schemes, management training, assertiveness courses and opportunities for networking.

Paul Nowak, the Northern TUC's regional secretary, said: "This report demonstrates that women have much to offer the region in terms of educational achievement and skills.