Brussels, 04/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The first European Equal Pay Day on Saturday 5 March highlights one figure: women in the EU earn on average 17.5% less than men! The Day draws attention to the extra number of days in 2011 that women must work to match the amount of money earned by men in 2010.
To tackle the gender pay gap, the Commission announces in a press release that it will: - support equal pay initiatives at the workplace such as equality labels, “charters,” and awards, such as those identified in a recent EU study of non-legislative initiatives for companies to promote gender equality at the workplace; - explore ways to improve pay transparency as well as the impact on equal pay of atypical working arrangements such as part-time work and fixed-term contracts; - seek to encourage women and men to enter non-traditional professions; - make it easier for both women and men to balance work-life duties.
On 1st March, Commission Vice-President Reding met with chief executives and chairs of boards from some of Europe's top firms to discuss how to increase the number of women in company boardrooms (see EUROPE 10326). (G.B./transl.rt)