A day to focus on “dignity and justice for all”

NEW DELHI: United Nations observed the first International Equal Pay Day on Friday, September 18. It reflected the United Nation’s commitment towards human rights, that is, equal pay for work of equal value. Currently, the gender pay gap is estimated to be at 23 per cent globally. For every dollar that a man makes, a woman earns 77 cents. While equal pay for men and women has been endorsed for years, it has not turned into reality yet. Years of unequal power structures have resulted in a rigid mindset that fails to move beyond discrimination against women in the workplace.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals addresses the need to achieve gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls along with productive employment, decent work for all (men, women, young, and people with disabilities), and equal pay for work of equal value. To observe the day, the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) hosted a virtual global Call to Action to encourage all labour markets to take necessary steps to ensure equal pay.

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General said, “We need to ask why women are relegated to lower-paid work, why professions that are female-dominated have lower salaries, why women see their wages decrease with motherhood and why women hit a ceiling in higher-earning professions”. He added that women’s unequal status at work increases their unequal treatment in other areas of life as well. He stressed on making a greater effort and finding a better solution for the equal pay laws have failed worldwide. He was quoted saying, “Equal pay is essential not only for women but to build a world of dignity and justice for all.”