Press Release No. 38/2018 IG Metall Calls for Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value

Frankfurt am Main – “Collective bargaining makes an important contribution to pay equity between men and women,” said Christiane Benner, Second Chair of IG Metall, on Monday in Frankfurt. “We absolutely must expand the important public debate on women’s issues to include material concerns.” A good income is also an effective way to combat poverty among older women. On the occasion of tomorrow’s Day for Equal Pay in the Workplace, IG Metall has therefore called for equal pay for work of equal value. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the pay gap between women and men averages 21 percent. Applied to annual income, this means: “By October 16, men in Germany have, on average, earned as much as women will earn by the end of the year. From tomorrow until the end of the year, women are essentially working for free. So we are still a long way from fair pay,” Benner criticized.

Even in companies bound by collective bargaining agreements, there is a pay gap, caused in part by incorrect job classification. Employers should finally stop downplaying this pay gap. “It is time for employers to close this gap and use pay equity as a strong selling point to attract female professionals to their companies,” Benner demanded. “The Pay Transparency Act is an important first step on the difficult path toward substantive equality,” Benner emphasized. “However, the law needs to be improved. Our experience to date confirms this. We need a right to bring class-action lawsuits and stronger co-determination rights for works councils.”

Since lawmakers have not imposed any binding requirements on employers for implementation, the vice chair of IG Metall called for effective sanctions for violations of the principle of equal pay for equal or equivalent work. “Improved career advancement prospects for women and a better work-life balance—including through adequate childcare structures—are important prerequisites for greater pay equity,” said Benner. “Pay equity is not just a matter of fairness; it is a matter of survival for women and families.”