Equal Pay Day 2023: Women Effectively Work Unpaid for Two Months, Greens Demand Action
Women in Austria effectively work unpaid for the final two months of the year, a stark illustration of the persistent gender pay gap, according to advocates marking Equal Pay Day on November 2nd. On this date, women have earned what men earned in the same period, continuing a cycle of economic inequality.
The Unseen Cost of Inequality
The disparity isn’t merely a matter of annual income; it represents a significant loss of earnings over a lifetime. A spokesperson for the Green Party emphasized that the cumulative effect of this wage gap amounts to hundreds of thousands of euros lost by women over their careers – money they are rightfully entitled to. “Every inequality is a piece of stolen freedom and self-determination,” the spokesperson stated.
Push for Wage Transparency
The Green Party is intensifying its call for the swift implementation of the EU wage transparency directive, but argues the current framework doesn’t go far enough. While the EU directive mandates transparency in pay reporting for companies with 100 or more employees, the party believes this excludes too many workers and will have limited impact in Austria.
“We Greens want to go further,” the spokesperson explained. “Transparency obligations should apply to companies with 35 or more employees, and income reports via the works councils should be accessible to all employees in an anonymous form. This is the only way we can make wage discrimination visible and combat it effectively.”
Evidence from other nations suggests a clear correlation between thorough wage transparency laws and a shrinking gender pay gap. The party’s position is unequivocal: “The same work must be paid the same – without any ifs and buts.” They argue that resistance to transparency signals a prioritization of protecting inequitable practices over ensuring fairness.
Beyond Direct Discrimination: The Burden of Unpaid Care
The issue extends beyond direct wage discrimination. The unequal distribution of unpaid care work – with women performing approximately two-thirds of this labor compared to one-third for men – substantially contributes to the wage gap.This imbalance has long-term consequences,including lower incomes,reduced pensions,and an increased risk of poverty in old age.
To address this, the Green Party is advocating for expanded access to affordable childcare. They are proposing the creation of 50,000 new kindergarten places by 2030 for children under the age of three, emphasizing the need for accessible, full-time care with qualified staff. “Every investment in childcare is an investment in economic independence,” the spokesperson asserted.
A fight for the Future
Despite acknowledging progress made while in government, the party remains committed to further action.They are continuing to push for revisions to existing equality measures. “We will continue to fight,” the spokesperson concluded, “for equal pay, independence and a strong women’s policy.”
Substantive News Report:
Vienna, Austria – On Equal Pay Day, November 2nd, the Green Party of Austria renewed its demands for stronger measures to close the gender pay gap, revealing that women effectively work unpaid for the last two months of each year.
Who: The Green Party of Austria, led by an unnamed spokesperson, is the primary actor
