05.04.19
The gender pay gap is the result of many complex factors including vertical and horizontal occupational segregation and direct pay discrimination but is mainly linked to what is called the “motherhood penalty”. In a society where unpaid care work (household work, caring for children, disabled, elderly and frail) is not valued, the motherhood penalty refers to the pay gap (care gap) between mothers and childless women.
The fact that mothers suffer a wage penalty raises major concerns that go beyond those highlighted by gender inequality. This ultimately questions the capacity of societies to manage a sustainable balance between their economic aim of active female participation in paid work and the social aims of providing a fair distribution of income to support the reproduction and rearing of children.
Moreover, the absence of a definition of the concept of work of equal value, including clear evaluation criteria for the comparison of different functions, constitutes a major obstacle for victims of wage discrimination seeking legal action. The inclusion in European Union legislation, enforceable in national legislation, of such a definition and criteria for classification and evaluation of functions could help victims of wage discrimination to bring an action before the national courts.
In Chapter I, this paper will present a short exposition of the gender pay gap in the European Union. In Chapter II, it will explore the underlying cause of the gender pay gap, which arises from the unequal distribution of unpaid care work. In Chapter III, summary will be presented of current situation in Belgium on equal pay, and finally there will be some recommendations in Chapter IV.
Answer Public Consultation 5th April
MMM Contribution EU Survey
29.07.24
UN New York - Our virtual HLPF side-event brought together experts to shed light on how the various global crises we face (in particular climate change and other environmental crises,
21.07.24
UN New York - Participating in the meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on care and support systems, MMM reaffirmed the principle of co-responsibility, which should underpin
04.03.25
The European Commission’s initiative on a new Gender Equality Roadmap post-2025, marks a significant step forward in addressing gender disparities across the European Union. Make Mothers Matter (MMM
07.04.25
With the new Road Map for Gender Equality, the EU acknowledges that gender equality remains a challenge across member states, with women still earning 12.7% less than men and facing greater employment gaps, par
19.03.25
At the latest EPSCO Council (Employment, Social Policy, Health, and Consumer Affairs), the Council of the European Union adopted groundbreaking Conclusions aimed at addressing work-life balance and promoting ge
18.03.25
The Council of the European Union has taken a decisive step in recognising the vital connection between gender equality and mental health.
06.03.25
Mothers with disabilities face many challenges in a world that is physically, socially and structurally inaccessible. Their struggles often go unnoticed and underappreciated which results in vast misconceptions
04.03.25
The European Commission’s initiative on a new Gender Equality Roadmap post-2025, marks a significant step forward in addressing gender disparities across the European Union. Make Mothers Matter (MMM) welcomes
17.01.25
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), MMM was invited to participate in an expert’s hearing organised by the European Economic and Social Com