French women are symbolically working for free from 11:25 AM on November 6th every year, says the feminist newsletter ‘Les Glorieuses’. This stark representation of the gender pay gap in France, which currently stands at 15.4%, serves as a call to action for wage equality.
The news bulletin Les Glorieuses, which focuses on women’s rights, annually pinpoints the date when female workers will be deemed to have worked for free until the end of the year due to receiving lower wages than their male counterparts.
According to Les Glorieuses, owing to gender-based wage inequality in France, women will be considered as working for free from November 6 at 11:25 a.m. until the year’s end.
In France, the enduring gender wage gap has prompted feminist newsletter Les Glorieuses to mark a symbolic date and time from which women begin to ‘work for free’ due to wage disparity. This year, the critical moment fell on November 6th, at 11:25 am, reflecting a significant 15.4% wage gap between men and women.
The stark representation of the current 15.4% gender-based wage gap in France serves as a rallying cry for wage equality. Despite some progress, wage inequalities persist in France, underscoring the need for fair public policies to achieve genuine gender equality in the labor market.
In France, gender-based wage gaps are determined using Eurostat data, focusing on salaries in companies with 10 or more employees. This method has faced criticism for overlooking wage differences between genders for the same job and working hours. The French statistical institute INSEE underscored the necessity for more accurate predictions of wage inequality, revealing a 5.3% full-time equivalent wage gap for the same position in the private sector in 2017.
Addressing wage inequalities: The call from ‘Les Glorieuses’
Despite the awareness raised by ‘Les Glorieuses’ and other feminist organizations, the 15.4% wage gap still persists. ‘Les Glorieuses’ is pushing for changes in three key areas of public policy to address these inequalities. 1) Access to public subsidies, tax incentives, and public tenders should be contingent on meeting equal pay conditions. 2) Salary increases should be implemented in professions where women are the majority, such as midwifery, nursing, and teaching. 3) Equal parental leave should be granted for both parents.
“Closing the gender-based wage gap requires concrete measures and egalitarian public policies. Progress towards real gender equality in the labor market can be achieved through wage transparency, reassessment of professions predominantly held by women, and ongoing awareness, advocacy, and action focused on equal opportunities and leave policies for both parents.”