Wage Gap Remains Wide: Equal Pay Day Sparks Criticism

On the occasion of Equal Pay Day on November 2, the parliamentary parties SPÖ, NEOS, FPÖ, and Greens criticized the still existing income gap between women and men.

The current debate focuses primarily on the implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive and the distribution of care work between men and women. The ÖVP, however, highlights progress in equality.

Wage gap in Austria currently at 16.3 percent

November 2 marks the day this year when men in Austria have already reached the annual salary for which women would have to work until the end of the year. Statistically, women work "for free" for 60 days, with the wage gap currently at 16.3 percent. To close this gap, Equal Pay Day would need to move further towards December 31. It is moving, but only slowly: compared to the previous year, by one day later, and compared to 2015, by a total of 22 days.

SPÖ sees wage transparency as "central lever"

The SPÖ sees the implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive as a central lever to close the wage gap. The directive provides, among other things, that employees in companies with 100 or more employees receive information about pay by gender and must be implemented by member states by June 2026.

Women's Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ) referred in a press release to Iceland as a role model, which has been leading the worldwide Gender Gap Report for 16 years: "Companies must prove that they pay fairly. Parents share parental leave equally. There is a mandatory quota in supervisory boards and executive boards." Austria ranks 56th.

NEOS and Greens on wage transparency

The NEOS also fundamentally support the EU Pay Transparency Directive. Women's spokesperson Henrike Brandstötter stated that the NEOS would ensure that there is no overregulation and as little bureaucracy as possible for companies in the implementation.

For the Greens, however, the planned measures by the EU Pay Transparency Directive do not go far enough, as many employees work in smaller companies that are not covered by the directive. Women's spokesperson Meri Disoski demanded: "Transparency obligations should apply to companies with 35 or more employees, and income reports should be made anonymously accessible to all employees through the works councils." In countries with comprehensive pay transparency laws, the gender pay gap is significantly reduced, according to Disoski.

Unequal Distribution of Care Work as Main Problem

The unequal distribution of unpaid care work is seen by both the governing parties SPÖ and NEOS, as well as the FPÖ and the Greens, as a major cause of the wage gap between men and women. SPÖ women's spokesperson Schatz once again advocated for an equal distribution of care work, equal parental leave times, and a legal right to a free, full-day childcare place from the first year of life. The NEOS also demand the expansion of childcare places so that women are not forced into part-time work due to a lack of alternatives. The Greens are calling for 50,000 new childcare places by 2030.

FPÖ: Care Work and Part-Time as Main Causes

FPÖ women's spokesperson Rosa Ecker identifies the high part-time rate among women, due to care work, as a main problem and demanded in a press release better pay in nursing, social, and educational professions, full crediting of child-rearing and care times in pensions, and targeted promotion of full-time jobs for women who want them. She also recently criticized the government regarding "ideological debates" such as the "gender craze": "A gender asterisk has not brought any woman a single cent more salary."

ÖVP Identifies "Continuous Progress" in Equality

The ÖVP, in response to an APA inquiry, highlighted the progress in equality between men and women. That continuous progress is being made is shown, for example, by the current "Report on the Consideration of Actual Equality in the Context of Impact Orientation," according to women's spokesperson Juliane Bogner-Strauß. For instance, the proportion of women in state-related supervisory bodies increased from 51.4 percent in 2023 to 53 percent last year. Challenges remain in strengthening women in education and employment.

Despite decades of demands and legal progress, the wage gap is still a reality, lamented the Independent Trade Union Faction in the ÖGB. The figures are a "scandal" and show that we are still "far from real equality in the labor market." "That is why we, as the Independent Trade Union Faction in the ÖGB, say very clearly: The women's strike is still necessary," as their chairwoman Marion Polaschek stated in a release.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.