Gender gap in pensions of 40% needs to be tackled
Gender inequality in employment and pay need to be tackled better, also to prevent pension gaps, which are nearly 40% in the EU.
The gender gap in pensions stood at 39.4 % in 2014 in the EU and has increased in half of the Member States over the past five years. The lowest gender gap in pensions is 3.7% in Estonia and the highest is 48.8% in Cyprus.
The gender gap in pensions is mainly the result of differences in the labour market: a higher proportion of women working part-time, lower hourly wages, and women with fewer years in employment due to caring responsibilities.
MEPs outlined a number of proposals to tackle the gender gap in pensions:
- reducing inequalities by tackling discrimination and stereotypes which block access to the labour market,
- respecting the principle of equal pay for equal work and offering women incentives to work longer and with shorter career breaks,
- flexible working arrangements and care credits for maternity, paternity and parental leave or care for other family members and generally improving the work-life balance,
- corrective measures in pension systems to aid the most vulnerable groups,
- more accurate assessment and awareness-raising, including better data collection and monitoring.
Procedure: Non-binding resolution
Debate: Monday, 12 June
Vote: Wednesday, 14 June
#GenderEquality #pensiongap #paygap