Men take 18% more than women
The European Commission (EC) intends to use a series of measures designed to significantly reduce the pay gap between men and women over the next five years. The average pay gap between men and women in the EU is currently 18%. To reduce that percentage, the committee intends to raise awareness among employers about the problem and encourage initiatives for achieving gender equality and to support the development of tools for measuring the difference in pay between men and women. On the other hand, it is possible to adopt new legislative measures outlined by the EC. The Commission intends to hold consultations with the European social partners and to analyze the effects of several possibilities: more stringent sanctions, to ensure transparency in pay and regular reporting on the pay gap. Today made public the results of a Eurobarometer survey showed that over 80% of Europeans support the idea to take urgent action to eliminate the pay gap. It is precisely such actions commissioner promises justice, protection of fundamental rights and citizenship Viviane Reding.
“Together with the member states will seek to significantly reduce the differences in wages between men and women by the end of my mandate in this committee,” she said before the Germany newspaper Die Welt.
The countries where there is greatest differences in pay between the sexes, are Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Cyprus, the Republic and Estonia. According to Viviane Reding over the past 15 years difference in pay between men and women have hardly diminished, and in some countries even have increased. “In this crisis situation Europe can not afford such a difference in pay. Equal pay for equal work as it is one of the oldest rights and values. Luxembourg commissioner, whose area is justice and fundamental rights, sharply criticized the unequal pay for men and women in Germany. “In Germany, women earn on average 23.2 percent less than men. EU average is 18%. This is unacceptable, “said Reding. High differences have different reasons. An important reason for the disparity is the high share of employment of part-time work among women. It comes to low-paid field. A third reason is that despite their high education, women often do not give them access to leadership positions. European Commission has repeatedly urged employers in recent years to change their behavior in this matter, but had moderate success.
Tags: employee, five years, Men, profit, wage, women, worker, working