The European Parliament has today paved the way for action needed to end Europe’s 13% gender pay gap.
MEPs voted in favour of a report on the gender pay transparency directive which includes the following improvements to the European Commission’s draft proposal:
- Protection of trade union rights for women workers, ensuring they can bargain collectively for equal pay
- Measures to deliver on the principle of equal pay for work of equal value
- A ban on pay secrecy clauses
The ETUC thanks the rapporteurs for this important report and calls for the swift adoption of the improved directive by the Commission and Council.
ETUC Deputy General Secretary Esther Lynch said:
“This vote is an important step towards turning the principle of equal pay for work of equal value into a reality.
“Equal pay has been enshrined in the European treaties since 1957 but women are still being paid up to €800 a month less than men for work of equal value and the gender pay gap won’t close until the next century without action.
“It’s high time to deliver on the promise of equal pay and that will require more than half measures, so it’s important that the improvements made by the Parliament are included in the directive.
“They will end the pay secrecy that allows prejudice to continue unchallenged and empower women to end the gender pay gap by coming together in trade unions to bargain collectively for equal pay.”
Notes
Women paid €800 less than men for same work
EU gender pay gap won’t end until 2104 without action
