Equal Pay Day on 18 March
The Equal Opportunities Officer of the City of Chemnitz provides information: Action in Chemnitz on 18 March, from 4 pm
On Monday, 18 March, from 4 p.m., trade unions, women's initiatives and the Equal Opportunities Officer will be drawing attention to the problems of unequal pay for women and men in Chemnitz. Campaign material will be distributed at Neumarkt, information will be provided and the aim is to enter into dialogue with citizens. Representatives of the media are cordially invited.
Equal Pay Day symbolically marks the day of the year until which women work for free, while men have been paid for their work since 1 January. Figures from the Federal Statistical Office show that the pay gap in Germany, measured in terms of the average gross wage, was 21% last year. Converted, this results in 77 days (21% of 365) and the date of Equal Pay Day 2019: 18 March.
The gender pay gap occurs because the proportion of women in lower-paid sectors is above average, because women are more frequently employed part-time and in marginal employment and are less likely to hold management positions. Women interrupt and reduce their employment more frequently and for longer periods of time due to family reasons, e.g. bringing up children and caring for relatives. Typical "female professions" are still poorly valued and paid too little in relation to the responsibility involved (e.g. nursery nurses, carers for the elderly, sales assistants).
It is the task of politics, society and the economy to improve the framework conditions in order to reduce the pay gap. This includes the elimination of role stereotypes, the promotion of work-life balance and more transparent pay systems.
For further information please contact:
Pia Hamann, Equal Opportunities Officer
E-mail: pia.hamann(at)stadt-chemnitz.de
Tel. 0371 4881380