Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, who is also a member of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, has welcomed the resolution before the EU Parliament to address and resolve the glaring anomaly of ‘gender wage gap’.

He stated that he supports the intensification of efforts to close the wide wage deficit and said it was totally unacceptable in any democratic society.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“The guiding principle of equal pay for equal work has been enshrined as a fundamental EU principle for over 50 years, yet it is blatantly obvious that not real effort has been devoted to make it reality across Europe.

“The gender pay gap for Ireland sits at 14% and across the rest of European Union it is currently at 16%.

“This is totally unacceptable in any democratic society and demonstrates that many obstacles that still have to be crossed to ensure that women have access to equal pay for equal work.

“As the impact of the economic crisis and the current so-called austerity measures continue to be felt more acutely by vulnerable groups, surely it is even more important than ever that we narrow the pay gap.

“There is no 14 or 16% discount in shops for women, or in rent or mortgage payments, and of course the difference also applies impacts on most company pension plans.

“This discrimination is wrong and a clear breach of rights and needs to be urgently tackled.

“Currently responsibility lies with member states but the Commission can and should bring forward new proposals that will ensure that the gap is closed, and that the principle of equal pay for equal work becomes a requirement right across the Union.

“We need political reforms that are directed towards removing wage discrimination and moving us towards a more equal and integrated labour market.

“We need to introduce positive measures like the possibility of company sanctions for wage discrimination and anyone who is being discriminated against should have the automatic recourse to legal assistance.

“The Commission promised it would release a report on this issue in the first half of 2013, but we are now we are in September and still waiting on them to make a move.

“The European Parliament resolution on wage equality is positive move, but the next step needs to be for the Commission to take action on this resolution.”

ENDS