Women in the EU still earn 13% less than men
Brussels: Women in the European Union continue to earn less than men – the average gender pay gap in the EU stands at 13%. This means that for every €1 a man earns, a woman will make only €0.87.
Equal Pay Day marks the date that symbolises how many extra days women must work until the end of the year to earn what men earned in the same year. This year it falls on 15 November. It serves to remind us to continue our efforts to close the gender pay gap.
Ahead of this symbolic day, Vera Jourová, Vice-President for Values and Transparency, and Helena Dalli, Commissioner for Equality, reminded that equal pay for the same work or work of equal value was one of the founding principles of the EU.
It was laid down almost 70 years ago and it still hasn’t been achieved. This year, progress on closing the gender pay gap was slow – a reminder that gender stereotypes continue to affect women and men in all spheres of life. “No company should pay women less if their skills, effort, responsibility and working conditions match those of their male colleagues”, they stressed.
The European Commission has made important steps to advance equality between women and men in the EU with the Gender Equality Strategy. So far, it has adopted:
- New legislation on work-life balance and gender balance in corporate boards
- The Pay Transparency Directive allowing workers to enforce their right to equal pay and improving access to justice for those who faced pay discrimination.
The Commission also launched a campaign to challenge gender stereotypes which brings to attention gender stereotypes in career choices, caregiving and decision-making.
Gender equality remains one of the main political priorities for this Commission.
