International Equal Pay Day, observed on September 18, stands as a poignant reminder of the ongoing efforts to achieve parity in wages for women globally. This annual event underscores the commitment of various organizations and individuals towards realizing equal pay for equal work. The United Nations, in particular, has pledged to combat discrimination, focusing on eliminating gender-based pay disparities.
“September 18 is International Equal Pay Day, shedding light on the persistent challenges in achieving fair wages for women worldwide.”
The lingering global gender wage gap
Despite strides made towards gender equality, the global gender wage gap hovers around 20%, signifying that women continue to be paid less than their male counterparts. This discrepancy reflects deep-rooted power dynamics, limiting opportunities for women and constraining their capabilities. Although the concept of equal pay is widely accepted, its effective implementation remains a challenging endeavor.
“The gender wage gap remains at 20%, highlighting the persistent imbalance in opportunities and resources between men and women globally.”
Disparities in maternity leave and retirement benefits
Globally, less than one-third of employed women enjoy paid maternity leave, while over 65% of women at retirement age lack regular pensions. Additionally, women bear a disproportionate burden, spending twice as much time on unpaid household and caregiving tasks. These disparities contribute to the overall gender wage gap.
“Less than one-third of women globally receive paid maternity leave, perpetuating disparities in income and opportunities.”
France’s struggle against wage inequality
In France, recent legal developments have allowed employees to request colleagues’ pay stubs, enabling them to address instances of wage inequality. However, progress remains slow, as demonstrated by last year’s statistic indicating that women effectively worked for free from November 4 onward. The gender pay gap in France stands at 24.4%, with women earning 32.29% less on average than their male counterparts.
“Despite legal measures, France grapples with a persistent gender pay gap, with women earning substantially less than men.”
EPIC – A global coalition for equal pay
In the pursuit of gender equality, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocate for decent work with equal pay for equal value. The International Equal Pay Coalition (EPIC), spearheaded by the International Labour Organization (ILO), UN Women, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), stands as a global initiative to bridge the gender pay gap. EPIC unites governments, employers, workers, and organizations to collaboratively address and reduce gender pay disparities at various levels.
“EPIC, led by ILO, UN Women, and OECD, is a groundbreaking coalition striving for global pay equality, uniting stakeholders across sectors.”