WUNRN
European
Commission Outlines Plans to Close Gender Pay Gap
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The European Commission has unveiled an ambitious four-point plan of action aimed at closing the gender pay gap.
The plan, presented on Wednesday by EU employment and equal opportunities commissioner Vladimir Spidla, proposes:
• Better application of existing legislation;
• The pay gap be considered an 'integral part' of member states'
employment policies;
• Equal pay be promoted among employers and
• An exchange of good practices across the EU.
Speaking at a news conference, Spidla said that closing the gender gap is one of the key concerns highlighted in the 'roadmap for equality between women and men 2006-2010'.
He also pointed to a Eurobarometer survey in January which showed that a large majority of Europeans believe more women are needed in management positions (77 per cent) and as MPs (72 per cent).
He said 68 per cent of Europeans believe family responsibilities act as an obstacle for women in accessing management positions and that 47 per cent consider women are less likely to be promoted than men with the same qualifications.
"The pay gap is a complex issue. The only way to succeed is by getting men and women, NGOs, social partners and governments on board," he said.
Today's communication aims to analyse the causes of the pay gap and identify courses of action at EU level, he said.
But Spidla warned that the pay gap can only be tackled by acting at all levels, involving all stakeholders and focusing on all the factors that cause it.
His proposals were broadly welcomed by the Party of European Socialists.
“It is time to shut the pay gap between women and men,” said Zita Gurmai, a Hungarian MEP and president of PES Women.
“Conservatives no longer dare to criticize the principle of equal pay for
women and men but it still falls on social democrats to do something about it.”
“Women have had to wait 39 years since equal pay entered EU law for the
commission to take renewed action."
“I congratulate Spidla for his proposal, and for highlighting the absurdity of
the continuing differences in the pay of women and men.
"He is right to acknowledge that the problem is complex, but this has
not deterred him from taking a strong stance. He deserves strong backing from
the parliament and the member states.”
The PES held a Day of Action on February 22 to highlight the 15 per cent
difference in average pay of men and women in Europe.
The ETUC also welcomed today's announcement but its confederal
secretary Catelene Passchier added, "However, we would like to see some
more concrete measures, including the re-introduction of a specific target and
timetable on the elimination of the pay gap in the EES."
“We are also very concerned about
growing wage inequalities around Europe, especially in areas and jobs
not covered by collective bargaining, and would like to see more explicit
support for collective bargaining as an important tool to strengthen the
position of women in the workplace and the labour
market.
“Particular initiatives must be taken to address the wage penalties
apparently linked to working part time, which means an evaluation of the part
time directive prescribing equal treatment
between full-time and part-time workers.”
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