Unequal wages in Styria: Women work for 68 days for free

Unequal wages in Styria: Women work for 68 days for free

In Styria, the large wage gap between men and women causes an alarm. According to the SPÖ Styria, women earn an average of 18.5 percent less than their male colleagues up to the end of the year. This means that they are not paid for 68 days of their work. In the nationwide cut, the difference is 16.6 percent, which corresponds to about 61 days, women work for free.

The regional differences are considerable. In Graz, for example, women earn 14.3 percent less than men, which means that they work free of charge from November 9th. The situation in the Leoben district is particularly dramatic, where the difference in income is highest with 24.5 percent. For the women there, the free work period begins on October 3. Bruck-Mürzzuschlag follows 23.6 percent, and women work there without payment from October 6th.

claim for wage transparency

Elisabeth Grossmann, the state women's chairwoman of the SPÖ and EU MP, demands a complete closure of wage scissors. She complains that there is little transparency in wages in Austria: "A big secret is made for the salary," she says. It suggests taking over the Icelandic model, where companies have to prove that they pay women for equivalent work. You have to submit a corresponding certificate every three years.

Grossmann emphasizes that it is crucial to support women with suitable measures in the labor market. This includes good training offers and individual advice, especially in times of increasing unemployment. "Saving should not be saved here," she demands in relation to women's projects of the labor market service.

fathers leave and structural problems

Another topic that shapes the discussion is the father's leave. Grossmann notes that only one of 100 fathers goes on maternity leave for more than six months, while eight out of ten couples the man does not go on maternity leave. This unequal distribution plays an important role in the difference in income.

FPÖ Styria sees the reasons for the income discrepancy mainly in the nursing and care obligations that often blame women. their complete commitment in low -paid professions often limits access opportunities to better paid jobs.

Missing women in management positions

Veronika Nitsche from the Greens is concerned about the considerable inequality in relation to management positions. Girls and women have to fight for equal opportunities. The proportion of women on the board of the 100 largest companies in Styria is alarming - only six percent of the positions are filled with women. This proportion is seven percent in the management. "If women are missing in decision -making positions, their perspective is also missing," says Nitsche.

A central problem is also the lack of childcare, especially in rural regions. Without sufficient places, many women could not be employed or would be severely restricted in their career development.

The Mayor of Graz Elke Kahr made it clear that the salaries of women in Styria should be gross by around 10,644 euros in order to achieve equality. The causes of wage inequality do not lie in a lack of education, since women are now often more successful in training than their male competitors, but in social structures that often have a disadvantage.