‘ We need more than lip service, we need real change’

ALMOST 50 years after the AntiDiscrimination ( Pay) Act 1974, it is deeply disappointing that the gender pay gap still persists.

The differential between men and women has actually increased in the most recent years measured.

A cursory analysis of the Irish economy shows that before the pandemic, nearly a third of women workers were in lo- paid jobs and females represented almost two- thirds of all those on the minimum wage. Worryingly, this gap will have only deepened during this pandemic as women have been more likely to lose their jobs under lockdown restrictions due to being more likely to work in retail and hospitality – the sectors hit hardest.

Another factor is the failure of the

State to provide adequate homecare and childcare. Where it comes to care for elderly or sick relatives, it is women who pick up the caring duties and who are forced into part- time work to balance this.

Similarly, they are also victims of astronomical childcare costs, where such costs force some couples to decide whether or not one parent should stay at home or move to part- time work, or for single parents, where it forces them to refuse full or part- time work.

We need more than mere lip service, we need to see real change to support workers on low pay and in precarious work.

In 2020, women in Ireland shouldn’t still have to fight for something as basic as equal pay.

We need to see real, radical change by finally taking this issue seriously and enacting the long overdue reforms necessary to fix this.

Doing so will create a better, fairer and more equal society for everyone.