Programme to reduce women-men pay gap published

The government and central labour market organisations have negotiated joint equal pay measures for the period 2020–2023.

The Equal Pay Programme aims to reduce the average pay gap between women and men, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on Friday.

The aims would be achieved through agreement and pay policies, development of pay systems, harmonising work and family life, and reducing gender segregation in working life.

The new Equal Pay Programme includes a number of practical actions to strengthen pay equality in the coming years.

The parties to the programme are committed to, among other things, updating the gender impact assessment recommendation, examining the effects of employment, and collective agreements on pay differences, increasing pay awareness, guiding gender equality planning in workplaces, examining pay systems based on job competence from the perspective of equal pay and promoting the use of parental leave by fathers.

In addition, business and industry organisations, education authorities, and providers of education will carry out a joint project to end gender segregation in working life.

“The Tripartite Equal Pay Programme is a concrete joint commitment to promoting equal pay. The average pay gap between women and men is still 16% and that has to change. …, I am optimistic the pay gap can be reduced,” said Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist welcoming the Equal Pay Programme.

According to the labour organisations representing employees, “promotion of equal pay must take place in the workplace, in the unions and central labour organisations, as well as in society as a whole. Important ways to reduce the pay gap include pay transparency, uniform criteria for assessing the requirements of work, and a more equal allocation of family leave among parents. It is important to take swift action now.”