International Equal Pay Day

Women around the world still earn, on average, 20% less than men . This gap is neither inevitable nor acceptable. Equal pay for work of equal value cannot wait. On this  International Equal Pay Day , the UN Women stands with women workers everywhere calling for equal pay for work of equal value. The gender pay gap affects far more than a pay cheque. It means lower lifetime earnings, less economic security, smaller pensions, and greater inequality across generations. And for many women – including migrant women, women with disabilities, and women from racial and ethnic minorities – the gap can be even wider. Equal pay for work of equal value is therefore critical for reducing poverty, advancing women’s economic justice and rights, and building more inclusive economies globally. This year has brought renewed momentum. At the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women , governments, employers, workers, and private-sector leaders renewed commitments to tackling the structura...

On International Equal Pay Day, the ILO reiterates a simple but fundamental principle: work of equal value deserves equal pay. Yet women around the world earn 18 per cent less than men. This is not just a statistic. It is millions of women whose work supports families, businesses, communities and economies, but who are still not being paid fairly. This must change. Together, governments, employers and workers can remove the structural barriers that underpin this injustice and strengthen the laws and institutions that promote equal pay. And through social dialogue, including collective bargaining, they can address the undervaluation of work done by women, strengthen pay transparency, build fairer wage structures, and ensure that women have an equal voice in shaping their economic life. The world of work is changing profoundly. But our principles remain steadfast. The new Resolution concerning the ILO transformative agenda for gender equality in the world of work only confirms our determ...