The European Commission has launched an EU Action Plan on Tackling the Gender Pay Gap following revelations that women in the European Union (EU) earn on average 16.2% less than men.
The Action Plan will focus on eight key areas, including combatting stereotypes and tackling the so-called ‘care penalty’.
Hephzi Pemberton, chief executive of the Equality Group told Good Morning Europe that "change definitely starts with a greater awareness and transparency around the issues," but there needed to be "more proactive approaches taken to plug this unpaid care gap that exists to promote more women into senior positions and encourage them into the highest paid jobs and the highest paid industries."
European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, Commissioner Marianne Thyssen and Commissioner Věra Jourová also told Euro News: “Women and men are equal. This is one of the EU's founding values. But women still effectively work for two months unpaid each year, compared to their male colleagues. We cannot accept this situation any longer."
Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in the Czech Republic Jana Maláčová told a news conference that the country’s women earn on average 80,000 crowns (US$3,504) less than men per year, according to Radio Praha.
"The difference in pay for women and men is 22%, and the second highest in the entire European Union,” she said, describing fair remuneration for women and men as "a crucial economic issue". The gender pay gap is wider in the Czech private sector than in the public sector, she added.
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.
OTHER ARTICLES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU
Gender pay gap exists at 78% of UK organisations
Mixed reasons given for Estonia's huge gender pay gap
How to address the ongoing European gender pay gap
The European Commission has launched an EU Action Plan on Tackling the Gender Pay Gap following revelations that women in the European Union (EU) earn on average 16.2% less than men.
The Action Plan will focus on eight key areas, including combatting stereotypes and tackling the so-called ‘care penalty’.
Hephzi Pemberton, chief executive of the Equality Group told Good Morning Europe that "change definitely starts with a greater awareness and transparency around the issues," but there needed to be "more proactive approaches taken to plug this unpaid care gap that exists to promote more women into senior positions and encourage them into the highest paid jobs and the highest paid industries."
European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, Commissioner Marianne Thyssen and Commissioner Věra Jourová also told Euro News: “Women and men are equal. This is one of the EU's founding values. But women still effectively work for two months unpaid each year, compared to their male colleagues. We cannot accept this situation any longer."
Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in the Czech Republic Jana Maláčová told a news conference that the country’s women earn on average 80,000 crowns (US$3,504) less than men per year, according to Radio Praha.
"The difference in pay for women and men is 22%, and the second highest in the entire European Union,” she said, describing fair remuneration for women and men as "a crucial economic issue". The gender pay gap is wider in the Czech private sector than in the public sector, she added.
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.
OTHER ARTICLES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU
Gender pay gap exists at 78% of UK organisations
Mixed reasons given for Estonia's huge gender pay gap
How to address the ongoing European gender pay gap
