Press Statement
8th March 2018
Every day is Women’s Day.
Today, in particular, we should remember the fundamental importance to stand up for women's rights and a society of equality. With regard to the wage differentials of 16% and 27% in Europe, there is a massive undervaluation of women’s competences and power. The gap is not only between the upper and lower classes, it’s also between women and man. There is still much to do!
That is why we continue to fight, on the 8th of March and every day, until we reach our goal of a substantial gender equality in every single field! - Maite Mola, Vice-Precidentcyof the Party of the European Left
In recent years there has been a brutal increase in gender inequality in Europe and in the world, an inequality that is felt in all areas and not only is there no progress but there has been an obvious regression. In the European labour area, the wage gap is at 16%. Currently, the large amount of part-time work, contract instability or difficult access to the labour market for younger women are some of the biggest problems faced by female workers.
Sectors and professions are segregated. In addition, in almost all sectors, men are more often promoted to management positions. This "vertical" segregation explains a significant proportion of the wage gap between men and women, as well as the consolidation of the so-called "glass ceiling" which limits women in their labour and professional progression.
As a result of these inequalities, women are again discriminated against, as the duration of the professional career has a direct effect on the gap in retirement pensions. In the field of health and civil rights, the WHO estimates that the complications derived from unsafe abortions cause 47,000 deaths annually and represent 13% of the total maternal deaths in the world.
For all this, as Party of the European Left, we demand in labour issues:
Finally, The EL supports all the mobilizations that are made on March the 8th: feminist strikes, demonstrations, rallies and all the events that call for equality throughout Europe and the world.