The European Commission (EC) has launched a public consultation to gather information on the impact of European Union (EU) rules on equal pay as part of its bid to tackle the region’s gender pay gap.
The principle of 'equal pay for equal work' is enshrined in EU Treaties, and EU law prohibits direct and indirect discrimination on the grounds of sex. The aim of the public consultation is to gather input from citizens, public authorities, social partners, civil society and researchers to find ways of better implementing and enforcing the equal pay principle enshrined in the Gender Equality Recast Directive and the 2014 Pay Transparency Recommendation.
Vera Jourova, EU commissioner for justice, consumers and gender equality, said that women in the region still earned on average 16.2% less than men, which was “simply unfair". "This inequality has not changed over the last several years,” she added. “We need to work together to bring change and make sure this inequality becomes a thing of the past."
The consultation, which is available online and is open until April 5, forms part of the EC’s action plan to tackle the gender pay gap, which was launched in November 2017. According to China.org, this action plan follows up on the 2014 Pay Transparency Recommendation, which was intended to raise awareness about the issue and encouraged companies to revise their pay structures.
Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.
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The European Commission (EC) has launched a public consultation to gather information on the impact of European Union (EU) rules on equal pay as part of its bid to tackle the region’s gender pay gap.
The principle of 'equal pay for equal work' is enshrined in EU Treaties, and EU law prohibits direct and indirect discrimination on the grounds of sex. The aim of the public consultation is to gather input from citizens, public authorities, social partners, civil society and researchers to find ways of better implementing and enforcing the equal pay principle enshrined in the Gender Equality Recast Directive and the 2014 Pay Transparency Recommendation.
Vera Jourova, EU commissioner for justice, consumers and gender equality, said that women in the region still earned on average 16.2% less than men, which was “simply unfair". "This inequality has not changed over the last several years,” she added. “We need to work together to bring change and make sure this inequality becomes a thing of the past."
The consultation, which is available online and is open until April 5, forms part of the EC’s action plan to tackle the gender pay gap, which was launched in November 2017. According to China.org, this action plan follows up on the 2014 Pay Transparency Recommendation, which was intended to raise awareness about the issue and encouraged companies to revise their pay structures.
Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.
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