Press Release No. 10/2013 International Women’s Day 2013: IG Metall Calls on the Federal Government to Take Concrete Action

Frankfurt/Main – On the occasion of International Women’s Day tomorrow, Friday, IG Metall has called on all political parties to take concrete measures to achieve true equality for women. By the next legislative term at the latest, the legal framework must be improved so that women in Germany can live self-determined lives with greater freedom of choice.

“The fight for true equality for women is far from over,” said Christiane Benner, executive board member of IG Metall. “Too many women are still being denied the freedom to choose their own path in life—due to a lack of equal opportunity, pay equity, and work-life balance. Politicians must urgently address this injustice through policy initiatives.”

Specifically, IG Metall is calling for legal regulations in the following areas:
Equal opportunity: IG Metall wants a statutory quota for women on executive and supervisory boards. Companies’ voluntary commitments have proven ineffective. Only 13 percent of DAX executive board members and 15 percent of supervisory board members in Germany are women. Women in particular would benefit from a nationwide minimum wage and a reform of the “mini-job” regulations, as called for by IG Metall. They predominantly work in mini-jobs or in precarious employment situations that do not allow them to make a living on their own. As a result, they are also at greater risk of poverty in old age.

Pay equity: The pay gap—that is, the difference in pay between men and women for equal work—still stands at 22 percent in Germany. Germany ranks among the worst performers in Europe. IG Metall is therefore calling for an Equal Pay Act that would require companies to identify and correct pay gaps.

Work-Life Balance: IG Metall is calling for legal provisions that enable men and women to share responsibility for their families on an equal footing. This includes abolishing the childcare allowance and expanding childcare options. Companies must offer more family-friendly workplaces and more flexible work schedules.

“Our goal is for women to have genuine freedom of choice regarding which path in life they want to take and how they want to pursue it,” said Benner. “Fortunately, a cultural shift has begun, and antiquated political ideas and outdated gender roles will not be able to withstand it in the long run. We will work to ensure that this cultural shift continues and translates into concrete improvements.”