Fair Pay a European Race to Equality and Equal Opportunities for All

Fair pay is discussed in many countries around the world – from the USA and […]

Policy Brief

09/11/2021

Fair pay is discussed in many countries around the world – from the USA and Canada to New Zealand and to Europe. Many approaches have been practiced ensuring fair pay across organizations. Transparency, regular pay analysis, and neutral job evaluation systems have proven most successful.

In 2021, the European Commission proposed a new road to fair pay in the EU combining all these policy instruments in a directive to drive the gender pay gaps down.

The discussion on policy instruments reveals also the challenges laying ahead: Iceland – as the first country – has enshrined an intersectional approach to fair pay in its legal requirements and the European parliament is stressing the intersectional nature of the issue.

Read the Policy Brief | Version Française

Additionally, the discussion on the value of work and how to measure jobs has been brought to a new level. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the value of mostly female-dominated jobs has been unfolded and the discussion on undervaluing has gained new impetus.

Now is the time to trigger real change on fair pay – with binding measures and sanctions in case of non- compliance. And it is also the time to discuss systemic changes. Analyzing pay structures and implementing fair pay is the first step in starting this process. Paying everyone fairly is not only a women’s issue but concerns everyone: ensuring fairness for all employees in every company has far reaching consequences and is key for equality and equal opportunities for all, no matter where they come from, who they love, or what they believe in, whether they have children or not, or how old they are.

 

Related publications
16/02/2022

Creating Momentum for Fair Pay: Assessing Policies with Leverage

Fair pay has reached a critical point in debates and discussions: many countries are sharpening […]
Find all related publications
Publications
08/03/2023

Abortion in the European Union

Actors, issues and discourse
08/03/2023

The European Care Strategy

A chance to ensure inclusive care for all?
03/03/2023

Spotlight on the political groups as gender equality actors

Struggles over issues of gendered violence in the European Parliament
10/02/2023

Climate and gender policy

'Climate mainstreaming: breaking down the silos' series
Find all related events
Events
Upcoming
05/06/2023
Online

Fair working conditions in childcare

Care4Care Policy Series
Past
15/05/2023
Brussels, Belgium

Beyond Growth Conference

Pathways towards Sustainable Prosperity in the EU
04/05/2023
Online

Climate and gender

Policy breakfast
Find all related news
News
23/05/2023

A credible future beyond growth has to be feminist

This article was first published on EUobserver
25/04/2023

Feminist Leadership for Women in CSOs

Survey for women in leadership
20/02/2023

When will European women start earning the same as men?

Spoiler alert: that day hasn’t arrived yet
03/03/2022

EU Care Atlas: how care deficits impact the gender earnings gap

While the attention is often focused on the gender pay gap (which averages 13% in […]
Find all related in the media
In the media

A credible future beyond growth has to be feminist

by euobserver 17/05/2023
Euobserver article about the #BeyondGrowth conference mentions FEPS 'Defining Care' Policy Brief

Pay transparency can help close the gender pay gap but at what cost?

by Euronews 31/08/2022

How many inequalities can the world fight at the same time?

by Social Europe 07/07/2022

Rebutting the assaults on gender equality

by Social Europe 08/03/2022