Childcare and Early Years workers in Ireland are paid less than half the average wage of their counterparts in other countries, according to OECD figures cited by the SIPTU trade union.
According to the SIPTU review entitled "Reward and Recognition: An International Comparative Analysis of Pre-Primary Wages", the average salary of such "pre-primary teachers" in Ireland equated to $22,697 - around 58% of the OECD average of $38,677.
The highest wages were in the Netherlands, at $59,814, while the lowest cited in the research were in Estonia at €19,574.
The salaries are expressed in dollar purchasing power parities, include bonuses and allowances, and are based on "public institutions".
However, the SIPTU review cautions that Ireland's early years system is not directly comparable, as it does not have any public institutions.
It also notes that the OECD did not have any Irish data, and the review relied on Pobal's 'Annual Early Years Sector Profile Report', with wages converted into US$ purchasing power parities.
"Not only are Early Years professionals some of the lowest paid workers in Ireland, they are at the bottom of the table when compared to their counterparts internationally," said SIPTU Head of Organising Darragh O'Connor.
He pointed out that the annual salary for the average Early Years professional here would have to "more than double" to reach the average of other similar EU countries.
"According to POBAL, a government funding agency, 60% of Early Years professionals earn below the Living Wage of €12.30 per hour," Mr O'Connor stated.
He claimed the low level of Government funding had resulted in low pay for professionals and high fees for parents - and called on the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O'Gorman to "make good on his promise to address the issue of low pay in the Early Years sector".
Early Years professional and SIPTU Activist, Timms Crotty-Quinlan, said the qualifications, dedication and hard work of staff were not being recognised or adequately rewarded.
"Most Early Years professionals are struggling to make ends meet while starting a family or buying a house are financially impossible. This is driving people out of a profession they love - but love doesn't pay the bills," she said.
