On 29 and 30 November, Equinet hosted a seminar on Pay Transparency in Brussels. It brought together members of Equality Bodies to learn more about the proposed Directive on Pay Transparency, sharpen their skills on pay transparency and discuss their role in relation to the proposed directive.
Find below the learning materials available for download.
Background
The framework of protection against gender-pay discrimination significantly varies across the EU, resulting in Equality Bodies having very different roles, mandates and functions on pay transparency at national level.
In March 2021, the European Commission issued a proposal for a Directive on Pay Transparency and Equality Bodies are a central piece of this legislative project. Building on the Gender Recast Directive, the Directive envisages Equality Bodies to be instrumental in effectively applying the principle of equal pay. Some key innovations are proposed, such as the possibility for all Equality Bodies to bring claims of equal pay in court on behalf of one or several workers. Equality Bodies would also be granted additional responsibilities on access to information on equal pay. The Directive also proposes to create “monitoring bodies”, granted with key awareness-raising, data collection and monitoring functions which could potentially be attributed to some Equality Bodies, depending on the equality framework of each Member State.
There is an essential need for coordination and peer exchange among Equality Bodies, to discuss, define and convey a common voice on the future of pay transparency in the EU. Coordination is also needed with other central actors of the Directive, in particular labour inspectorates and social partners.
Objectives
The objective of the seminar was to support participants in extending their knowledge of and sharpening their skills on pay transparency, equal pay and reducing the gender pay gap.
Participants took part in workshops focusing on putting in practice the concept of work of equal value, comparing pay transparency instruments in the EU, collaborating with trade unions and accessing courts for cases of equal pay. Equality Bodies members also had the chance to exchange good practices and learn from each other.
Learning materials
- ‘Setting the scene – Equal pay in the EU’ by Dr. Sara Benedi-Lahuerta, University College Dublin
- ‘Introducing the Directive’ by Agnieszka Bielska-Decugnière, European Commission
- ‘Findings of Equinet’s upcoming report on Pay Transparency’ by Moana Genevey, Equinet
- Workshop 1 Day 1 – Putting in practice the concept of work of equal value by Dr. Sara Benedi-Lahuerta, University College Dublin
- Workshop 2 Day 1 – Comparing Pay Transparency Instruments in the EU by Christine Aumayr-Pintar, Eurofound
- ‘Project Equal Pay – “Equal Rights – Equal Pensions’, Kristijan Kevešević, Ombud for Gender Equality, Croatia
- Workshop 1 Day 2 – Collaborating with trade unions by Kristijan Kevešević, Ombud for Gender Equality, Croatia
- Workshop 2 Day 2 – Accessing courts for cases of equal pay by Liv Navntoft Henningsen, Danish Institute of Human Rights