The European Commission has published an action plan to tackle the gender pay gap for 2018 - 2019.
The latest Eurobarometer survey revealed that, nine in 10 Europeans consider that promoting gender equality is important for society, the economy and for them personally. A further 90 per cent believe it is not acceptable for women to be paid less than men, and 64 per cent are in favour of salary transparency as a way to empower change.
‘Women are still under-represented in decision-making positions in politics and the business world. They still earn 16 per cent less than men on average across the EU. And violence against women is still widespread,’ said Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality. ‘This is unfair and unacceptable in today’s society. The gender pay gap must be closed, because the economic independence of women is their best protection against violence.’
The action plan acknowledges that the gender pay gap is largely due to the fact that women tend to be employed less, in less well-paid sectors, take fewer promotions, take more career breaks, and do more unpaid work.To address this problem, it is presenting an action plan that it hopes will:
Improve respect for the equal pay principle by assessing the possibility to amend the Gender Equality directive. Tackle the care penalty by urging the European Parliament and Member States to adopt swiftly the work-life balance proposal of April 2017. Break the glass-ceiling by funding projects to improve the gender balance in companies at all management levels; encouraging governments and social partners to adopt concrete measures to improve gender balance in decision-making.