WOMEN are paid considerably less than men in semi-state organisations, while their careers are stifled by a mentality that fosters stereotypical profiles and attitudes, labour minister Sotiroulla Charalambous said yesterday.
“Despite an existence of legislation and a wage scale system that excludes discrimination, the wage discrepancy between men and women in Cyprus’ semi-governmental sector is something that needs to be addressed” Charalambous said.
Speaking at a presentation of a study concerning the issue conducted in 2006, the minister stressed the need to change the mentality in place and to strike a balance between professional and family life.
The average wage of women in 2006 were around €8.51 per hour, compared to an average wage of €14.3 for men, which constitutes a wage gap of around 40.4 per cent.
A huge wage discrepancy was noted in Cyta, where there was a 30.2 per cent gap between wages, with men earning an average of €15.3 per hour, compared to a €10.5 wage for women.
Female employees working in the electricity authority (EAC) was also paid significantly less than their male colleagues, a €13.9 per hour wage for men to women’s €10.6 constituting a 25.2 per cent gap.
The main reason behind the discrepancy, according to the study’s results, was that women in general occupied lower-wage positions in semi-state organisations.
Rather interestingly, the average gross wage earned by women in the semi state sector was on par with that of women working in other sectors.
“The study clearly shoots down the misconception within society that the existence of a wage scale framework in the state and semi state sectors has addressed discrimination” Charalambous said.
The minister nonetheless said that initiatives have been taken since 2006 to help women enter the workforce and to consolidate their role as both family providers and career mothers.
“The amendments on the law on motherhood protection and an overall amelioration of the framework in place to help women and their dependent individuals means we are heading in the right direction” she said.
Workers union PEO chief, Pambos Kyritsis, who also chairs INEK, said that the study revealed a sad reality for Cyprus.
“It is clear that social forces are still in place which undervalue women’s contribution and credentials, which leads to women being overlooked for promotions despite having equal educational levels and qualities with their male colleagues” Kyritsis said.
Despite the recognition of the issue’s severity, it remains unclear why similar studies monitoring the progress made have not been carried out and published since 2006.
The study, which was conducted by the Cyprus Labour Institute (INEK) used wage figures gathered by the Statistical Service in 2006 and included questionnaires with 42 questions and a sample of 411 semi-governmental employees.
The sample, which includes employees from seven semi state organisations, including the EAC and Cyta is considered to cover over four-fifths of the total employment in Cyprus’ semi state sector.
