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EU targets gender pay gap (2) |
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08:13, July 19, 2007 |
As a consequence, women''s career paths are more often interrupted, slower and shorter, and hence less well paid than men''s.
Statistics showed that the pay gap grows with age, education and years of service.
Differences in pay are over 30 percent in the 50-59 age group and 7 percent for the under-30s.
It is over 30 percent for those with third-level education and 13 percent among those with lower level secondary education.
For workers with over 30 years of service in a company, it is as high as 32 percent, while it is 22 percent for those who have worked in a company for one to five years.
"The pay gap is a complex issue with multiple causes. Sometimes we see pure discrimination. But often reasons are hidden: women do more unpaid work, like taking care of the household and dependents; more women work part time and often the women-dominated sectors are on a lower pay scale," Spidla said.
The report said the pay gap can only be tackled by acting at all levels, involving all stakeholders and focusing on all the factors that cause it.
The commission said it will act to bridge the gap through better application of existing legislations, exploiting full potential of EU funding, promoting social responsibility among employers and supporting exchange of good practices across the EU.
An EU survey in January showed that 68 percent of Europeans believe family responsibilities act as an obstacle for women in accessing management positions and 47 percent consider women are less likely to be promoted than men with the same qualifications.
Source: Xinhua
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