A council could be set up to tackle women's issues, ranging from business and employment to domestic violence, said the Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation.

According to Minister Neletha Butterfield, a women's council would be "the next step" to review the women's issues report, put out in 1997. The report showed that women were being paid an average of $10,000 less than men over a decade ago.

And Ms Butterfield said the situation would not be much different today. "I am sure it is similar. That is why we are discussing inequalities in pay. "There are some similarities to men and men would think we are making so much more than them but when you look at the corporate world there is a disparity."

The women's council, will be announced in the near future and will be tasked with seven recommendations not yet carried out since the 1997 report.

These include getting an equal pay act to be drafted and enacted; forcing employers to write workplace sexual harassment policies and grant minimum family leave for parents.

The council would aim to get Government support for maternity and family leave and get the responsible Minister to issue regulations governing marriage licences. It would also look to adopt a multi-agency approach to tackling violence against women and would host round table meetings on the issue.

Ms Butterfield said: "It gives me great pleasure to announce that these seven recommendations have been refined and will be put forward as part of a terms of reference for a new 'women's council'."

Out of 190 recommendations put forward in 1997- on varying issues like domestic violence, health and fitness, child care and education — more than half have since been implemented.

Sixty three are outstanding, 12 have been partially completed, nine require funding, four are currently under review and three are in progress.