Gender pay gap: “It’s time to go from legislation to good practice”

“How is it possible that after having legislation on equal pay for over 50 years it doesn’t work and we still have a 16%-17% gender pay gap in the EU?” asks Slovakian Christian Democrat Edit Bauer. Mrs Bauer is the author of a report on equal pay for male and female workers for equal work or work of equal value. In this interview Mrs Bauer speaks about the EU’s focus for this year’s International Women’s Day, to be celebrated on 8 March.

Read the article on the EP website…

European Equal Pay Day: We are on the right track, but a lot more still needs to be done

Edit Bauer MEP and European Parliament Rapporteur on the “Application of the principle of equal pay for male and female workers for equal work or work of equal value” in the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM), welcomes the second European Equal Pay Day. “Equal Pay for Equal Work will also be the motto of this year’s European Parliament event on International Women’s Day (8 of March) and I am delighted this topic is high on the agenda”, says Edit Bauer MEP.

The Gender Pay Gap Report reiterates the recommendations adopted by the European Parliament in 2008, while also taking into account the statistical data and research information on the issue of the gender pay gap which have been released in recent years. “The principle that men and women should receive equal pay for equal work has been enshrined in the European Community Treaties”, points out MEP Bauer.

Read the article on the EPP website…

Economic potential of women 50+ must not be overlooked

The plenary session of the European Parliament today overwhelmingly adopted a Report by Edit Bauer MEP on the disadvantageous situation of women approaching retirement.

The Report deals with and formulates recommendations to the European Commission and the Member States on the most neglected age group on the labour market. A shameful fact is that the employment rate for women over the age of fifty is only 37 percent, the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy being to reach 75 percent. According to Edit Bauer, rigorous steps should be taken to keep this age group on the labour market preventing them from spending their retirement years in poverty. Mrs Bauer said: “These women possess knowledge, skills and experience that must not be neglected.”

Unfortunately, women over fifty often have to face multiple discrimination on an everyday basis. They are overshadowed not only because of their gender, but also because of their age. “Women are considered old much earlier than men and this in itself indicates a clear discrimination. In addition, the gender pay gap among older women is much deeper than in any age group. This is mainly due to the fact that women are often forced to interrupt their careers, most often because of childbirth or homecare of their dependent family members. These so-called ‘inactive periods’ accumulate and have a significantly negative impact on the reckoning of pension”, pointed out Edit Bauer. Furthermore, we have to prevent women being penalised simply because of motherhood or taking care of family members. In her Report, Edit Bauer calls on the European Commission and Member States to take these factors into account while preparing the pension reform.

Another huge problem and also a cause of early retirement is the health status of elderly women. Both the European and the national health policies should take into account the specific diseases of women, like breast and cervical cancer and osteoporosis. “Most of these diseases can be prevented if recognised in time, so Member States should take appropriate measures to draw the attention of women to regular cancer screening and prevention. Member States should ensure that these tests are available all the time”, concluded Edit Bauer.

My speech as rapporteur at the beginning of the debate:

Debate: Use of sexual violence in conflicts

My speech during the plenary debate about the “Use of sexual violence in conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East”:

Debate: EU policy framework to fight violence against women

My speech during the debate, on 4th April 2011:

Debate: Female poverty

During the March plenary session of the European Parliament we also dealt with the situation of women in the European Union. We had a joint debate about two reports: Report on equality between women and men in the European Union – 2010 and Report on the face of female poverty in the European Union. I also made my contribution to the issue, you can watch my speech here:

Public hearing: Combating trafficking for forced labour

On 9th February 2011, the EPP Group in the European Parliament in cooperation with the Churches´ Commission for Migrants in Europe, organises a public hearing on combating human trafficking for forced labour. The meeting will be chaired by Mrs Edit Bauer.

Speech: International adoption

My speech in plenary during the debate about “International adoption in the EU”, which took place on 17th January 2011.

After the debate we also adopted a resolution on the issue.

Directive on trafficking in human beings – a comprehensive answer to fight trafficking in human beings

Several hundred thousand victims are trafficked in Europe each year, current laws have failed the victims and today we have adopted strong measures against the criminals involved – imprisonment terms of up to 10 years and confiscation of assets.

Today, the European Parliament’s plenary adopted by an overwhelming majority the report on trafficking in human beings. This directive-to-be is repealing the Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA which has failed to meet its intended objectives and is not addressing the growing phenomenon’s new challenges.

The report was jointly drawn up by MEP Edit Bauer (EPP, SK) and by MEP Anna Hedh (S&D, SE). The common text, agreed upon by the EP and the Council, was finally approved by the joint EP committees, the Committee on Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality unanimously at the end of November 2010.

“There were several issues during the trialogue, which we considered as key points of the future directive. It could be summed up as a pro-victim, contra-offender policy” said MEP Bauer. One of the key challenges was the creation of a dissuasive environment for the traffickers, including of those who instigate, aid, abet such an offence. The institutions have agreed on a minimum of maximum penalty of 5 years of imprisonment, while in case of aggravating circumstances this could be increased to 10 years. This is a huge step forward since the framework decision in force has not established such penalties. However, a “simple imprisonment” in itself is not a sufficient sanction, it is not a deterrent penalty for the traffickers, mainly if we take into consideration that the estimated profit of this crime is about 32 billion USD. A new element in this legislation is the possibility of seizure and confiscation of assets of traffickers that can be used for assistance and protection to victims, including the compensation of victims as well as for trans-border anti-trafficking activities. Another important element is that the gravity of the offence should be taken into account in the framework of the execution of the sentence. According to the legislation the legal persons can be held also responsible and penalised.

The “pro-victim policy” is ensured by several articles dedicated to assistance, support and protection of victims. Separate articles deal with the special situation of children. According to this new directive assistance and support for a victim is not made conditional on the their willingness to cooperate in the criminal investigation, prosecution and trial. “One of the big successes is that we have achieved to guarantee legal counselling and legal representation without delay for victims of trafficking which should be free if the victims have no sufficient financial resources. This legal assistance is free of charge for children” summed up MEP Bauer.

“Secondary victimisation is present in many jurisdiction and we have to do everything to avoid it” added MEP Bauer. The adopted text includes a provision which allows national authorities not to prosecute or impose penalties on trafficked victims for their involvement in criminal activities they have been compelled to commit.

Finally, the new law calls on the EU Commission to set up an EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator to coordinate the EU´s anti-trafficking policy and the work of the national rapporteurs in this area.

“I consider as a huge success that we were able to find a good compromise with the Council on such an important and sensitive issue” stated MEP Bauer.

Speech in plenary: women, peace, security

This week in Strasbourg we were also dealing with the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women and peace and security. During the debate I made a speech on behalf of the EPP Group: