As a member of the “coalition against wage discrimination”, Unia today draws up a disappointing assessment in Bern: the equality law presents important gaps. We ask for salary and sanctions controls, the abolition of the lapter clause and more transparency.
Five years after the introduction of compulsory salary analyzes, the latest statistics show that wage differences are still 16 percent. The unexplained share of wage differences, that is, direct wage discrimination, has increased and constitutes 48 percent of the wage differences observed. For women, this means on average nearly 8,000 francs in less salary per year – only because they are women.
It is therefore not surprising that the intermediary assessment of the Federal Council of March is just as disappointing: more than half of the companies do not comply with the binding provisions of the equality law (LEG) concerning salary analyzes. The last revision of the LEG is therefore a double failure.
A new revision of the equality law is necessary
The “coalition against wage discrimination”, a group of 53 organizations and personalities, met today to celebrate this sad anniversary. The obligation for companies from 100 employees to carry out wage analyzes in order to detect possible wage discrimination came into force on July 1, 2020. The eight orators present raised the gaps in the law, symbolized by the missing shares of the birthday cake.
Vania Allea, president of the Unia union, criticizes the lack of sanctions: “Nothing constrains companies today to respect the law. And those who have discovered unjustified wage inequality are not required to correct this discrimination. It is time to put an end to the impunity of employers – severe sanctions are now necessary. ”
The coalition also requires:
- The obligation for companies to eliminate wage discrimination!
- The deletion of the Caduity Clause – Equality should not have an expiration date!
- More transparency and the extension of the obligation to companies from 50 employees!
The coalition against wage discrimination calls for Parliament and the Federal Council to once again look at the theme of equality and to consider a new revision of the equality law. Finally, effective instruments are needed to eliminate wage discrimination. By the end of 2027, the coalition will develop a new bill.
