The application of the principle of equal pay for male and female workers for equal work or work of equal value

28.6.2013

Question for oral answer O-000078/2013
to the Commission
Rule 115
Mikael Gustafsson
on behalf of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

Equal pay for equal work has since the Treaty of Rome been a basic EU principle recognised in Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Despite the significant body of legislation that has been in force for almost 40 years and the actions that have been taken, progress has been extremely slow: the gender pay gap (GPG) still stands at around 16.2 % across the EU. The slow progress and uneven development in closing the GPG reveals the inefficiency of Directive 2006/54/EC on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women workers in matters of employment and occupation (recast) in its current form.

On 24 May 2012, Parliament adopted a resolution with recommendations to the Commission on the application of the principle of equal pay for male and female workers for equal work or work of equal value calling on the Commission to review Directive 2006/54/EC and revise it by 15 February 2013, as set out in Article 32 of the directive, taking on board, where appropriate, Parliament’s recommendations. Meanwhile, the European Added Value Assessment (EAVA) was prepared by Parliament services with clear signals of support for its demand for a revision of Directive 2006/54/EC. In addition, the Eurobarometer findings reveal that addressing the GPG is considered a high priority among gender issues.

What steps does the Commission envisage taking to significantly reduce the gender pay gap, in particular by revising Directive 2006/54/EC, while bearing in mind that addressing the GPG is one of the tools:

– to address the demographic crisis,

– to increase employment among women, and

– to decrease the number of people living at risk of poverty?

How is the Commission going to implement the recommendations of Parliament’s resolution A6-0389/2008 on the application of the principle of equal pay for men and women in the context of the revision of Directive 2006/54/EC in its current form?

What is the response of the Commission to the findings of the EAVA indicating that the recommendations of Parliament’s resolution are likely to have a significant impact on economic output in the EU, since a one percentage point decrease in the GPG will increase economic growth by 0.1 %?

Tabled: 28.6.2013

Forwarded: 2.7.2013

Deadline for reply: 9.7.2013