International Women's Day: How the EU has improved working conditions for women

We can thank European Union legislation for the following legislation surrounding the working conditions of women (amongst other benefits)*:

• A man and a woman doing the same work, or work of equal value, cannot be paid at different rates because of their sex.
• If the rate of pay is determined on the basis of a job qualification or evaluation, the same criteria must be used for men and women, and the assessment must not discriminated on grounds of gender.
• Women and men must have equal access to vocational guidance and training.
• Women and men must have equal working conditions.
• Women and men must have equal conditions related to dismissal.
• A woman cannot be dismissed from her employment because of pregnancy or maternity.
• Women and men must be treated equally in occupational social security schemes.
• Pregnant women are entitled to a continuous period of maternity leave.
• If pregnant women need to attend ante-natal examinations during working hours, they are entitled to take that time off work without loss of pay.
• Pregnant workers are protected from exposure to a range of harmful working conditions, and are not obliged to work at night.

In a statement** issued today (for International Women's Day) the European Commission writes:

"Since the very start of our European project, the European Union has been committed to achieving gender equality both within our borders and across the globe. We are proud of what we have achieved so far. More and more women both within the European Union and beyond have equal opportunities in the world of work, and are leaders in every field, be it business, politics or education.

"It is essential that we continue our efforts to integrate equality for women and men into every one of our policies across the board, in each of our Member States and in the countries we work with. Also within the Commission we will continue our strong commitment to gender equality. Women are still paid on average 16% less than men for every hour worked, still make up less than a quarter of company board positions and a third of women work part-time, notably because of care responsibilities that are not equitably shared with men.

"The European Union relentlessly combats sexism, discrimination, gender-based violence and inequality. Recent EU legislation secures victims' rights, addresses trafficking in human beings, and promotes equal treatment. Initiatives this year will include addressing the work life balance of parents and the participation of women in the labour market. The Commission just tabled a proposal to ratify the Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women; a clear signal that now is the time to step up our collective action.

"[...] We stand together, today and every other day, committed to creating a world where our daughters and sons have equal opportunities. When it comes to dreams, when it comes to goals, gender must never be considered an obstacle."

Sources:

* www.londonchamber.co.uk/DocImages/1154.pdf

** http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-16-641_en.htm