asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the recent statistics produced by the Central Statistics Office which showed that the average weekly wage for women was considerably below that for men; if he intends to take any steps to promote greater equality in earnings between men and women; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Equality in Earnings.
16.
I am aware of the statistics to which the Deputy refers and which indicate that while the average weekly wage of women remains considerably below that for men, the slow but steady improvement of the index for women in manufacturing industry is being maintained. The differences in the earnings shown between men and women result from a wide range of factors including wage rates, hours worked, overtime payments, shift or unsocial hours premia, payments by results, bonuses for output levels and payments for length of service. In addition, the statistics cover only a percentage of women who are at work and relate to the industrial sector where women tend to be segregated into certain low pay areas and confined to a restricted range of jobs.
The solution to the differential in pay between men and women does not lie in equal pay legislation alone but in improved access for women to a wider range of jobs. Nevertheless, there are a number of changes which I propose to make to the provisions of the Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974, in the context of the general review of the employment equality legislation. These changes will simplify, and make more effective, the procedures for the pursuit of equal pay for work of equal value.
When does the Minister expect these changes to take effect?
The Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974 was from the discussion document of 1987. There are three separate Bills. Our intention is that the changes will take place in the autumn.
Would the Minister agree that part of the problem is due to the fact that so many women are now employed on a part-time basis? The Minister has just informed us that 46 per cent of the working population work part-time. While this prevails there will not be equality in the work place.
I said 5 per cent of the workforce worked part-time. I said the higher proportion were women, about 67 per cent. The survey highlights why there are differences under various categories. The differences result from a huge range of factors. The Employment Equality Agency and FÁS are trying to build in a bias for women. In my view it is the range of areas, particularly in industry, that women are excluded from that creates many of the imbalances. The report that Deputy Mac Giolla refers to shows that. It includes a great amount of data on the subject which I could perhaps circulate rather than reading through it.