The European Commission has recently given an update on measures taken to improve gender equality in a number of key fields, including employment.
According to the Commission, its efforts have met with some success, particularly in relation to addressing the gender pay gap and increasing the number of women on company boards. However, the Commission recognises that there is still a long way to go before equal pay becomes a reality and the EU’s target of 75% of women in employment is achieved.
"For us Europeans gender equality is not an option, it is not a luxury, it is an imperative," explained Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU’s Justice Commissioner. "We can be proud of what Europe has achieved in recent years. Gender equality is not a distant dream but increasingly a European reality. I am convinced that together we can close the remaining gaps in pay, employment and decision-making jobs."
The report highlights that across Europe, the gender pay gap still sits at around 16.4%. Measures introduced by the Commission to help reduce this gap have included:
- raising awareness that the pay gap still exists,
- marking a European Equal Pay Day, and
- monitoring the application of legislation on the equal treatment of women and men.
In addition, the Commission pushed for further progress in March of this year by recommending that Member States improve their pay transparency.
The Commission has also taken action to tackle the “glass ceiling” that can prevent women from progressing to the most senior roles within organisations.
One such measure saw the Commission propose a Directive that would require organisations to have 40% of the under-represented sex among non-executive board directors by 2020.
This proposal has proved to be controversial in some quarters but, according to the Commission, it has made good progress in the legislative process and received strong endorsement by the European Parliament in November 2013.
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This blog post is intended as a news item only - no connection between Lewis Nedas and the parties concerned is intended or implied.
