German Big Pay-Gap Problem: Women Are Not Paid Enough

[rainman + 263]

Germany has flourished under Chancellor Angela Merkel over the last 12 years, with record-low unemployment and robust economic growth. But that success hasn’t translated into better pay for women in the country, where one of the worst gender pay gaps in Europe looks unlikely to get better soon. Despite having a woman running the government, a new law aimed at highlighting the issue lacks the teeth to boost women’s standing in the corporate sector. The so-called Wage Transparency Act, which took full force in January, puts the onus on individual employees to step forward and request information on wage discrepancies, while companies are given plenty of wiggle room. Even in fields dominated by women, such as medical assistants, men can get paid 40 percent more. The lower pay, along with more part-time work for women, mean they earn about 50 percent less over their working lives than male peers, according to a 2017 study by the German Institute for Economic Research in Berlin.

[Pavel + 384]

According to a World Bank study, globally, closing the pay gap and promoting equal participation in the workforce could enrich the world economy by some $160 trillion. That’s about twice the value of global GDP.

[jpZelabal + 63]

Wonder how correlated pay gap is to GDP, or some other wealth index? Poorer/struggling countries with less pay upside have naturally compressed gaps?

[pinto + 293]

Inequality is big problem, not just in Germany. Same picture's everywhere..

[damirUSBiH + 327]

Well, considering date of Germany’s economy - there are no problems at all... The biggest problem for them, very soon, will be rising up of hard right - wing parties

[ThunderBlade + 231]

First at all, I'm for equality. But, few facts: women sometimes choose worst paying jobs, they choose different paths, work less hours... If they worked the exact same job, exact same amount of time, same age, etc they'll get the same pay. For example, I don't believe that women as an academic professors on Hamburg University get smaller monthly  income than man professors...

[rainman + 263]

Women who think equal pay is a top issue facing women, 2016.

Sweden: 43%
Belgium: 38%
Germany: 37%
Chile: 35%
France: 33%
US: 33%
UK: 31%
Canada: 30%
Australia: 27%
Hungary: 25%

[Rodent + 1,424]

1 hour ago, rainman said:

Women who think equal pay is a top issue facing women, 2016.

Sweden: 43%
Belgium: 38%
Germany: 37%
Chile: 35%
France: 33%
US: 33%
UK: 31%
Canada: 30%
Australia: 27%
Hungary: 25%

"Women who think...." not terribly scientific. Not interested in what women think about it. I'm interested in facts and figures on actual pay vs. male counterparts.