Gender equality

Equality between women and men is a fundamental principle of a fair society. The ETUC works for equal participation for women in the labour market, including equal pay, job quality, promotion opportunities and working conditions; and throughout society in general. There is still a long way to go. Achieving gender equality entails changing Europe’s long-hours work ethos and offering a better work/life balance for both men and women, within a framework of comprehensive care provision.

The ETUC Women’s Committee actively pursues these aims. The social partners’ Multiannual Work Programme sets down a framework for action until 2008.

The ETUC cooperates with the European Women’s Lobby in this context.

 The ETUC created an equal pay website in 2001 which gathered information on the pay gap across the EU member states as well as trade union strategies to tackle and reduce it. We hope to include the documents in the near future, but should you require information or documentation on this issue in the meantime, please email:

Sinead Tiernan (stiernan@etuc.org)

Esyllt Meurig (emeurig@etuc.org)