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
27/01/2025

Forging the new EU agenda

Progressive inputs for European economic policy
04/11/2024

A new Gender Equality Contract for Europe

Feminism and progressive politics
05/03/2024

A European feminist foreign policy?

The need for a progressive and transformative approach
01/02/2024

Bridging the gender pay gap in the Western Balkans?

A country case study of Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia
Find all related Progressive Post
Progressive Post
31/10/2024

Lithuania turns left: hopes and fears for same-sex partnership

Social Democrats celebrated a clear victory in the Lithuanian parliament elections. The final round of […]
22/11/2023

Unsilenced voices: women’s struggle for rights in Iran and Afghanistan

In the intricate tapestry of global rights, the struggle for women’s empowerment in Iran and […]
08/03/2022

Rebutting the assaults on gender equality

Tackling gender-based violence, on which an EU directive proposal is being published today on the […]
Find all related events
Events
Past
17/01/2025
Vienna, Austria

11th Barbara Prammer Symposium

Money. Power. Equality. The benefits of gender budgeting
25/09/2024
Académie Royale, Brussels

Anchoring equality in the new European agenda

Forging the new EU agenda - High-level conference
25 - 26/09/2024
Brussels, Belgium (Expert meeting)

Forging the new EU agenda

Progressive Economic Policy Conference
Find all related news
News
22/03/2024

FEPS attends the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)

The 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), the UN’s largest annual gathering on […]
18/03/2024

FEPS President on Euronews talk-show ‘Brussels, my love?’

NATO extension, Portuguese elections, far-right and gender equality were the topics of the debate
08/03/2024

Discover the updated EU Care Atlas!

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2024, we have updated our EU Care Atlas. […]
23/05/2023

A credible future beyond growth has to be feminist

This article was first published on EUobserver
Find all related in the media
In the media

Nedostatak brižnosti

by Vox Feminae 04/02/2025
"Lack of care" The Croatian feminist magazine Vox Feminae highlights the chapter by Annica Kronsell in FEPS book "A new Gender Equality Contract for Europe", which is dedicated to imagining a new gender contract for the climate

Brussels, my love? Ursula von der Leyen cracks the whip on gender parity

by Euronews 07/09/2024
FEPS Director for Research and Training Ania Skrzypek participated in this episode of Euronews’ show ‘Brussels my love’.

FEPS President on Euronews talk-show ‘Brussels, my love?’

by Euronews 16/03/2024
FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues discusses NATO expansions and elections in Russia and Portugal on Euronews talk-show ‘Brussels, my love?‘

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