The current system of parental leave in Britain has been described as the most unequal in Europe by one specialist.

Maggie Berry has declared that it is holding women back from working in IT jobs in the UK and more needs to be done to address issues of gender balance in the field of computing.

The managing director of Women in Technology, she noted although wider progress towards greater equality between the sexes has been made, this does not appear to have filtered through adequately to IT, which "remains a male-dominated industry".

She noted that men in the sector outnumber women by four to one at present, adding that the "motherhood penalty" is preventing female workers from obtaining senior roles.

Her remarks came as International Women's Day 2011 was celebrated on March 8th, marking 100 years of the event and highlighting the political, social and economic achievements of females.

Posted by Kate Griffin