SIPTU has called for public support for a demonstration in support of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017, outside Leinster House, Dublin 2, today (Wednesday, 24th May), at 6.00 p.m. This evening, the Bill will be introduced by Senator Ivana Bacik for a Second Stage debate in the Seanad. It seeks to tackle the 'gender pay gap' by requiring large employers to publish information on pay rates in their organisation. SIPTU National Campaigns and Equality Organiser, Karan O Loughlin, said: “The ‘gender pay gap’ is the difference between the pay of women and men, based on a calculation of average difference in gross hourly earnings. Its existence reflects ongoing discrimination and inequalities in the labour market which, in practice, mainly affect women. “The gender pay gap exists across our economy and in all sectors and occupations. In 2013, the EU Commission published a major study on the gender pay gap, noting that in Ireland women currently earn around 13.9% less than men.The EU average has women earning 16% less than men. “Management and supervisory positions are overwhelmingly held by men. Within each sector men are more often promoted than women, and paid better as a consequence. This trend culminates at the very top, with less than 4% of CEOs being women. Low pay combined with zero or low hours contracts, bogus self-employment and informal or undeclared work traps have been found to be widely gendered in their implementation and result in women facing long-term disadvantages in the labour market. “There is also a marked gender difference in pension coverage in Ireland. Women are far less likely to be covered by occupational pensions than men and as such are reliant on a low level State pension.” She added: “It has been more than 40 years since equal pay legislation was passed in Ireland yet the workplace remains highly inequitable for women in 2017. That is why this Bill is so important and we are encouraging everybody, regardless of gender or political affiliation to join the rally outside Leinster House this evening to insist on equality and fairness at work for women.”
SIPTU to demonstrate in support of Gender Pay Gap Bill outside Leinster House today
