ABSTRACT
As chapter 1 suggests, in the twenty-first century we have witnessed unprecedented transformations in how the world of work operates. It is no longer so geographically confined and many labour-intensive industries have declined whilst others, such as the services industry, have flourished. There is a new global economy which operates 24/7 and is more competitive and more regulated than ever before. It is no longer dominated by men, although an increase in the number of women active in the labour market has not meant gender equality at work, and women continue to be discriminated against in many ways.
