Emma RitchUK Joint Committee on Women

EQUAL PAY IN PRACTICE: HOW NGOs RESPOND

Irish Presidency SeminarDublin, 27.02.2013

1. EWL – who we are2. EWL approaches to equal pay3. Campaigning4. Advocacy and lobbying 5. Conclusions

Structure of presentation

1. The EWL – who we are

The largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in the EU

National co ordinations in 30 European countries and 21 European-wide member organisations (migrant women, women farmers, women lawyers, trade unions etc.)

Concentrating on European-level, but activities from local to international level

EWL: The voice of European Women

The main policy areas of EWL work

Male violence against womenWomen in decision-making / representationEconomic and social policy from a feminist

perspective Women's diversity and

anti-discriminationMigration, integration and asylum

2. The EWL approaches to equal pay

Outcomes pursued by EWL

Feminist perspective in EU economic, employment and social policies

Quality employment for women as key to economic independence and real equality between women and men

Life course perspective in political approach to women’s employment, including pension-aged women

EWL: Campaigning

Europe-wide campaigning Developing and disseminating campaign materials

and briefings Supporting country-level campaigning

Partnering with campaigns Sharing successful campaigning ideas across national

co-ordinations Encouraging links between co-ordinations

EWL: Advocacy and lobbying European-level advocacy

Europe 2020 European Semester

Country-level advocacy National Reform Programme engagement Production of alternative country-specific

recommendations In-country advocacy e.g. UK House of Lords

Campaigning, lobbying and advocacy focuses

Eliminating the gender pay gap Eliminating the gender pension gap Gender equality in sharing paid and unpaid work Reconciliation of professional and family life Reduction of women’s disproportionate share of

marginal, precarious, and part-time work Individualisation of taxes and welfare benefits

3. Campaigning

EWL members Campaigns

Business and Professional Women – BPW Europe

EWL members’ campaigns

Campaign aims • Raising awareness and mobilization • To influence both Governments and companies to

change their gender policy and practice • Making the “invisible“ pay gap a topic in the media

and in companies • Exert influence on practice by building an

understanding and analysis of the pay gap and its causes

4. Advocacy

Austerity Europe?

Pay and pension gaps widening Women increasingly in atypical, precarious work Pensions under pressure

Maternity and care Regressive policy and incentives

Disconnect between macro and micro economic policy and social and employment policy

Why equal pay is important Economic growth and the competition for talent

Skills gaps and shortages in gender segregated sectors; drag on economic growth

Productivity, morale, innovation, reduced HR and legal costs

Equal society Better quality work Economic independence for women, including older

women

Broken links The EU2020 Strategy

Employment Guideline 7 “Member States should (...) promote (..) gender equality including equal pay, (..)

Employment Guideline 10 “All measures should also aim at promoting gender equality.”

Yet Country-specific recommendations: One country

recommended to address the gender pay gap 17 out of 27 member states recommendation on wage

policy, wages and wage formation – no pay gap

Specific interventions: maternity leave directive

Maternity leave directive Deadlock – negotiations stalled on EP adopted position

(2010) Would challenge perceptions of women as a “risky and

expensive employee-pool.” Shift idea that parental leave for men is “career-threatening and financially risky”

EWL’s aspiration: women and men are equal earners/equal carers

Specific interventions: EU Gender pension gap target

Strengthen the first pillar, and address gendered issues in the second and third pillars

Minimum pensions at state level to ensure individualised access for women, regardless of their pension contributions, which will have been impacted by shorter working lives.

Develop European standards on care crediting

Concluding thoughts

Outcomes of recent pay transparency measures need to be monitored and shared. (2012 France, Belgium)

Is justice accessible? How can NGOs strengthen collaboration with Equality Bodies on issues underpinning the pay gap?

What role does minimum wage legislation have to play in narrowing pay gaps?

Strengthen EU2020 Strategy – how do we make better links with Stability Pacts : gender perspective on the impact on women’s pay, pensions and poverty?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

For more information:www.womenlobby.org