Brussels, 29/01/2007
The report shows that the introduction of the joint European “framework of actions” in the various national contexts has provided a new impetus for social partners' work on gender equality. A range of actions has been taken such as the negotiation of collective agreements, the discussions with public authorities, the design of new gender equality policies or the development of projects tackling gender gaps. In the first year of implementation, activities to translate and disseminate the framework of actions constituted an important part of the actions taken.
This report also reveals that many organisations focused their activities during the first year of implementation on facilitating work life balance. Social partners have developed various tools to ensure that work organisation responds both to workers' and companies' needs (introduction or extension of care leave, prevention of long working hours, promotion of flexible and innovative forms of working such as telework etc.). Social partners have also worked on the issue of equal pay between women and men through different types of activities (development of information and guidance tools, training schemes, studies and/or statistics to better understand the underlying causes of the gender pay gap, company strategies etc.). In addition, efforts have been made by social partners to come to grips with the problems of labour market segregation and of under representation of women in decision-making.
European social partners will officially present the first results of their work to Minister van der Leyen and Commissioner Spidla at the launch of the “European Year of Equal Opportunities for All” in Berlin on 30 and 31 January 2007.
- “Framework of actions on gender equality”
For more information please contact:
Maria Fernanda Fau, BUSINESSEUROPE Tel.:+32(0)2 237 65 62 www.unice.org
Francesco Longu, UEAPME Tel.:+32(0)2 230 75 99 www.ueapme.com
Gin Ngan, CEEP Tel.:+32(0)2 229 21 58 www.ceep.org
Patricia Grillo, ETUC Tel.: +32(0)2 224 04 30 www.etuc.org
