This website takes into account the public sector pension levies -
http://taxcalc.eu/ - there is still a big discrepancy in their weekly take home wage, regardless of the public sector pension levies.
Gross salary of €55K with €358 pw take home pay does not add up? Private sector employee on this salary who is say contributing 5% towards a pension would have a weekly take home pay of around €690 per week - where as a public sector employee should have a weekly take home pay of about €650. That is almost a €300 difference?
Gross salary of €40K with €406 pw take home pay does not add up? Private sector employee on this salary who is say contributing 5% towards a pension would have a weekly take home pay of around €560 per week - where as a public sector employee should have a weekly take home pay of about €538. That is about a €150 difference?
Meaning a shortfall of €450 per week in their net wages.