OFFICE workers in Northern Ireland are the worst paid the UK, with salaries between ten and 40 per cent below the national average, according to a study by the staffing agency Select Appointments. The most dramatic comparison is with salaries in central London, where a legal secretary could expect to earn an average of £19,000 in Northern Ireland, the average figure would be around £8,000.

The survey also shows that only ten per cent of Northern Ireland companies provide private health plans, compared with a national average of 60 per cent.

The study found that fewer than one third of Northern Ireland companies provide any pension benefits: the UK average is around 65 per cent. Employees in Northern Ireland are allowed only ten days paid sickness leave, against a national average of 33 days.