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BackTomorrow, March 8, is the 103rd anniversary of International Women's Day, to once again make more equal opportunities and gender equality the subject of discussion. The idea of a Women’s Day dates back to 1908 when female textile workers went on strike in the USA. According to the United Nations, women in New York protested against the poor working conditions. Looking at the current situation as regards equal opportunities and gender equality, progress, even though it has been made, is limited.
Gender pay gap stagnates at 16.4 %
Equality between women and men is enshrined in the fundamental values of the European Union. The principle of equal pay for men and women has been part of the Treaty of Rome since 1957. However, latest studies show that the gender pay gap - the difference of the average hourly earnings of women and men in all sectors of the economy - has hardly changed over the past years and is stagnating at about 16 %. Hence, compared to the values of previous years (17 % or above) and following a slight improvement, the situation has not changed. A constant decline can be observed in Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and Cyprus, whereas the trend stagnated in other countries (Poland, Lithuania). However, in countries such as Bulgaria, Estonia, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Hungary the gender pay gap has even been on the increase during the past years. Austria tries to remedy this pay gap by obliging companies to prepare reports on equal pay. Currently the gradually introduced regulations are mandatory for companies employing more than 250, 500 and 1000 staff. Companies with more than 150 employees have to prepare a report from 2014.
Austerity policy affects women
The crisis and the austerity policy, associated with it, have shown that the impact on women is greater as they, due to their social situation, are more dependent on public transfers. In order to hold this trend, it would be important - as time and again demanded by the Chamber of Labour - to invest in developing and extending the social infrastructure, such as childcare, care facilities or education for example. On the one hand, for many, these services form the basic requirement for pursuing a gainful activity, apart from sustainable jobs being created on the other. This boosts the economy, increases private consumptions and follows a sustainable path of growth.
Equal opportunities pay off
In its studies, the EU Commission time and again emphasises that equal opportunities pay off. Companies, wanting to be successful for example, have to recruit qualified employees, whereby a greater integration of female employees represents a promising approach. Statistics have repeatedly shown that the potential of women for the labour market has still not been exploited adequately. It is a well-known fact that 59 percent of all women are available to the labour market - in contrast, the figure for men stands at 70 percent. 32 percent of women work part time, but only 8 percent of men. More than six million women in the EU countries state that they, due to family obligations, are unable to work full time and only 16 percent of board members in the largest European corporations are female. Hence, more has to be done at national, but also at EU level to use the existing potential and to ensure that equal opportunities and gender equality will become reality one day.
Further information:
Information by the EU Commission on gender equality
Equality between women and men is enshrined in the fundamental values of the European Union. The principle of equal pay for men and women has been part of the Treaty of Rome since 1957. However, latest studies show that the gender pay gap - the difference of the average hourly earnings of women and men in all sectors of the economy - has hardly changed over the past years and is stagnating at about 16 %. Hence, compared to the values of previous years (17 % or above) and following a slight improvement, the situation has not changed. A constant decline can be observed in Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and Cyprus, whereas the trend stagnated in other countries (Poland, Lithuania). However, in countries such as Bulgaria, Estonia, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Hungary the gender pay gap has even been on the increase during the past years. Austria tries to remedy this pay gap by obliging companies to prepare reports on equal pay. Currently the gradually introduced regulations are mandatory for companies employing more than 250, 500 and 1000 staff. Companies with more than 150 employees have to prepare a report from 2014.
Austerity policy affects women
The crisis and the austerity policy, associated with it, have shown that the impact on women is greater as they, due to their social situation, are more dependent on public transfers. In order to hold this trend, it would be important - as time and again demanded by the Chamber of Labour - to invest in developing and extending the social infrastructure, such as childcare, care facilities or education for example. On the one hand, for many, these services form the basic requirement for pursuing a gainful activity, apart from sustainable jobs being created on the other. This boosts the economy, increases private consumptions and follows a sustainable path of growth.
Equal opportunities pay off
In its studies, the EU Commission time and again emphasises that equal opportunities pay off. Companies, wanting to be successful for example, have to recruit qualified employees, whereby a greater integration of female employees represents a promising approach. Statistics have repeatedly shown that the potential of women for the labour market has still not been exploited adequately. It is a well-known fact that 59 percent of all women are available to the labour market - in contrast, the figure for men stands at 70 percent. 32 percent of women work part time, but only 8 percent of men. More than six million women in the EU countries state that they, due to family obligations, are unable to work full time and only 16 percent of board members in the largest European corporations are female. Hence, more has to be done at national, but also at EU level to use the existing potential and to ensure that equal opportunities and gender equality will become reality one day.
Further information:
Information by the EU Commission on gender equality