The same wages for the same work: women have to finally benefit!

The same wages for the same work: women have to finally benefit!

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - On February 12, 2025, the Equal Pay Day, it becomes clear that women in Austria earn an average of 12.18 % less than their male colleagues. This means that women work in a mathematically unpaid by this date. The Equal Pay initiative calls for a quick action and the implementation of the EU directive on wage transparency in order to close the existing wage gap. According to Christa Kirchmair, the president of the initiative, it is not acceptable that women earn less up to 19,970 euros annually. The demand is: Companies must finally disclose how salaries are structured in order to generate economic advantages and potentially create new jobs, as is stated in a report by APA-OTS.

EU directive sets clear rules

On April 24, 2023, the remuneration guideline was adopted by the countries of the European Union to ensure equal treatment in the payment for equivalent work. This guideline is to be implemented in all EU countries by June 2026. This sets a strong signal that Federal Minister of Women Lisa Paus describes as significant for all women in Europe. The regulations require employers with more than 100 employees to regularly publish data on gender wage gap. If this is over 5 percent, the differences must be analyzed in detail and measures must be taken to remedy, as is documented on the website of the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth.

These developments are crucial to combat decades of injustice in the wage structure and to facilitate women to enforce their rights to equality and fair payment.