The Spanish Government's responsibility in the fight against the gender pay gap
25.1.2018
Question for written answer E-000403-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea (ALDE)
The President of the Spanish Government, Mariano Rajoy, stated that governments have no competence to combat wage discrimination between men and women. Despite this being a priority for global and European leaders meeting at the Davos Forum, the Spanish President considers that this is not his responsibility, saying ‘let's not get into that’.
According to Eurostat, the gender pay gap remains at 14.9%, three times as much as in Italy or Romania, despite the fact that it has decreased in the European Union as a whole. This is a situation exacerbated by the economic crisis, as noted in my Written Question E-001208-17.
Given that, for the Commission, the fight against the pay gap between men and women is a priority in the Strategic Engagement for gender equality 2016-2019 and a challenge in all Member States, I would like to ask the Commission:
- 1)Does the Commission think that Member States, in this case Spain, have the competence and responsibility to fight against the gender pay gap?
- 2)Does the Commission consider that the correct transposition and implementation of Directive 2006/54/EC is one of the instruments that Member States have at their disposal?
- 3)What is the Commission’s assessment of the measures adopted by the Spanish Government in implementing this directive?