 |
 |
Closing the gender pay gap
March 9, 2006 12:00 AM
By Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP in Barking and Dagenham Recorder
By Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP in Barking and Dagenham Recorder
Sarah at work in the European Parliament
International Women's Day on Wednesday was a reminder that the difference between men's and women's earnings in the UK is one of the worst in Europe.
British women in full time work earn on average 17% less than men (part-time women workers get an even worse deal). The EU recently published a study showing that in Malta, which only joined the EU in 2004, the pay gap between men and women is just 4%. In Italy it is just 6%.
The principle of equal pay for equal work stems from the establishment of the EU 50 years ago. Before the UK joined in 1973, we had to have laws in place to ensure that men and women were paid the same for the same work. All new EU laws also include provisions to ensure equality between men and women.
The problem we face today is that jobs women do are valued less than those men do. At my local Jobcentre last week there were two startling adverts illustrating the problem. A care assistant with one year's experience was offered £5.50 per hour while a labourer with six months experience was offered £10 per hour! Typically, a woman would fill the first and a man the second.
The British government's answer is to encourage women to do jobs which are traditionally male, such as plumbers. This is only part of the solution. We need also to value more highly the jobs traditionally done by women, such as carers, shop assistants, nurses, teachers and secretaries. I want companies forced through compulsory 'pay audits' to pay fairly for the different skills held by men and women.
Sadly, Tony Blair's government refuses to do this, though it is the only sure way to let British women enjoy the European level of equality they deserve.
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats