Press Release: International Women’s Day: Commission takes action to close the gender pay gap

On the 7 March 2014, ahead of International Women’s Day (8 March 2014), the European Commission adopted a Recommendation asking Member States to improve pay transparency for women and men in a bid to help close the gender pay gap.

The pay gap – the average difference between women and men’s hourly earnings across the entire economy – has barely moved in recent years and is stagnating at 16.4% across the European Union. Greater transparency in pay is an important part of tackling the pay gap, because it can reveal gender bias and discrimination in the pay structures of an organisation.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Equal Pay Day: Gender Pay Gap stagnates at 16.4% across Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-equal-pay-day-gender-pay-gap-stagnates-at-16-4-across-europe/

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/160: Commission Recommendation on pay transparency and the gender pay gap - Frequently Asked Questions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-160_en.pdf

European Commission: STATEMENT/14/51: International Women’s Day – Statement by Commissioner Piebalgs http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-51_en.pdf

ESO: Background information: European Commission hits equal opportunity targets 11 months in advance http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-european-commission-hits-equal-opportunity-targets-11-months-in-advance/

ESO: Background information: Women innovators prize 2014: Commission rewards winners from Germany, Netherlands and Spain http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-women-innovators-prize-2014-commission-rewards-winners-from-germany-netherlands-and-spain/

European Commission: RAPID: STATEMENT/14/53: International Women's Day (8 March): Statement by Androulla Vassiliou http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-53_en.pdf

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/156: Questions and Answers: What has the EU done for women? 50 years of EU action on Gender Equality for One Continent http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-156_en.pdf

European Commission: RAPID: STATEMENT/14/56: Commissioner Andor's statement on International Women's Day – 8 March http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-56_en.pdf

European Commission: RAPID: STATEMENT/14/54: EU High Representative/Vice-President Catherine Ashton on the occasion of International Women's Day 2014 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-54_en.pdf

EurActiv, 07.03.14: Inequality persists as EU prepares for Women's Day http://www.euractiv.com/socialeurope/eu-celebrates-womens-day-gender-news-533991

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