President-elect of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen claimed the gender pay gap is at 16% in Europe. Von der Leyen tweeted this on November 4th and promised to close this gap. The claim turns out to be true.
The 4th November of 2019 is Equal Pay Day. In honour of Equal Pay Day, EC president-elect von der Leyen tweeted this statement: “Today on #EqualPayDay women earn on average 16% less than men. Written in the European Treaties 60 years ago, equal pay for equal work is still not a reality. That’s why I will table measures to introduce binding pay transparency measures. We must give women and men equal rights!”
According to the European statistics website Eurostat this claim is indeed true. The Belgian statistics website Statbel confirms the 16% too. The numbers are based on data from 2017. Eurostat claims that the gender pay gap is much lower for young employees. The countries where the pay gap is the highest are Estonia, Czech Republic and Germany, all between 21% and 25%. Belgium, France and Romania are the only EU countries where women under the age of 25 years old are payed more than men.
In short: Based upon stats of Eurostat, Ursula von der Leyen’s claim that women earn less than men is true.
Leave your comments, thoughts and suggestions in the box below. Take note: your response is moderated.
RESEARCH | ARTICLE ©AP University College, Antwerp, Belgium