Here's the latest Argus column by South Wales East AM Mohammad Asghar:

EARLIER this month the National Assembly marked International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day has been observed since the early part of the last century and became an annually recognised day throughout the United Nations in 1996.

From its inception it has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration with thousands of events being held to inspire women and to celebrate their achievements.

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Women have made and continue to make significant contributions in all aspects of life in Wales.

Even with greater equality in legislative rights, and impressive female role models, women still face many challenges.

I would like to mention some of these challenges today.

Many of these challenges are in the workplace.

It is a sad fact that the gender pay gap in hourly earnings excluding overtime for both full-time and part-time employees in Wales was nearly 15 per cent in 2017.

It is interesting to note that there are only 360 female apprentices compared to 8,300 men.

I am also concerned that, all too often, careers advice tends to guide women towards apprenticeships that are paid less than men.

Many women are directed towards careers in childcare and hairdressing instead of in the higher paid sectors of engineering and construction.

It takes tremendous courage to come forward and report incidents of domestic abuse.

We must do more to encourage such victims to report abuse and to recognise the signs of domestic violence.

Some years ago, I received a positive response to my suggestion that all public sector organisations should have a workplace “violence against women” policy in place.

This would identify and assist employees who are the victims of violence.

The exploitation of women in and around Wales is becoming far more acknowledged.

Breakthroughs regarding the way human trafficking is perceived is resulting in more and more exposure of its hidden nature and various guises.

Apart from sexual exploitation of women, there are issues of forced labour or services and slavery.

I am pleased that, since its creation twenty years ago, the National Assembly has taken a strong line on these issues.

In 1897 Susan Anthony, the American editor and campaigner for women’s suffrage said: “There never will be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers.”

Since that time, we have witnessed significant progress towards women’s equality and emancipation.

There remains, however, much more to do.