WAGE DISCRIMINATION
Women paid up to 20% less than men for same work
In Switzerland, salaries for equally qualified men and women doing the same job can vary by as much as 20% in men’s favour. (Julie Hunt, swissinfo.ch/SRF)
To narrow that gap, the Swiss cabinet wants all businesses with at least 50 employees to conduct an analysis of wages every four years subject to external review.
According to a study by the Federal Statistical Office, the average monthly salary of a woman aged 40 to 49 working in the private sector is CHF5,757 ($5,630). Men of the same age doing the same work earn CHF7,312, a difference of more than CHF1,500. The inequalities are less pronounced among younger employees and more so among older ones.
About 60% of the wage differences can be explained by objective factors. Many women return to work after a long absence raising a family, so they may have less experience in the job than their male counterparts. Qualifications and training and the level of responsibility affect wages. But, according to the study, 40% of the wage differences cannot be explained in this way.
Categories: Economy, Europe, Europe and Australia, Switzerland, The Muslim Times
No one remembers the history: In the good old days it was the husband who took care of the family. When the wife started to also work it was just to ‘add’, ‘contribute’ something to the household expenses. Consequently there was no need of ‘equal pay’. – Right, things are different now. But how come no-one remembers the history?
“When the wife started to also work it was just to ‘add’, ‘contribute’ something to the household expenses. Consequently there was no need of ‘equal pay’.”
“No need”?? Whether a woman has a working husband is totally irrelevant. A person should be paid fairly and appropriately for the work they do, regardless of whether they have a spouse, whether their spouse works, and how much their spouse earns.