asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to a recent report, published by the Employment Equality Agency, which showed that Irish women workers still earn well below the male average and that women were still predominantly in lower paid jobs; if he intends to take any action to improve this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Equality Agency Report.
24.
I am aware of the report on women in the labour force to which the Deputy refers. The report indicates that while the average earnings of women remain considerably below those of men, the slow but steady improvement of the index for women across all industries 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, as the report points out, average earnings only are available, and as such, it is not possible to identify the extent to which the data conceal variation in earnings.
The solution to the unacceptable 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.
Legislation alone will not totally solve the women's employment problem and that has also proved to be the situation in other countries. We must look towards improved training, positive action and ensure that our educational system does not discriminate on the basis of sex. Action is being taken in each of these areas. FÁS have as a priority over the next few years to increase and broaden the range of job opportunities available to women in the labour market.
On positive action, the Government have adopted and will be monitoring positive action policies in the Civil Service and State-sponsored bodies. The Employment Equality Agency's recent video on the nature of employment in the electronics industry and the avenues leading to such employment is a good illustration of positive action.
A code of practice on positive action has been published by the Employment Equality Agency and I would take this opportunity to draw the attention of employers to it. It is in employers' own interest that they use the talents of all their employees and this is now even more important in the context of increased competition.
As regards education, it is the ongoing policy of the Department of Education to eliminate sexism and sex-stereotyping in the educational field. This is stressed at pre-service and in-service training courses for teachers. The issue has been examined in the context of the review of the curriculum at first and second levels. The level of sexism and sex-stereotyping in textbooks and teaching materials at primary level is being examined and a number of measures have been initiated to encourage the take up by girls of nontraditional subject choices.
There are 700,000 women — according to this report — employed on home duties because there is no provision for child care facilities in industry or services. Has the Minister any proposals to tackle this problem because it puts us at the bottom of the OECD table for participation by women in the workforce? Does the Minister consider, as he seems to have suggested, that it is satisfactory progress for women to earn 67 per cent of the average male earnings whereas, three years ago, the figure was 66 per cent? In those circumstances, to reject — as he seems to have done — the concept of a legal minimum wage is to ensure that many of these women will continue to live in the poverty trap at or below the poverty line because of the low wages paid to them compared to men.
All our agents are actively involved in trying to improve the position in this regard. The main reason for the low level of pay is that too many women have not had the opportunity of getting into what was considered for too long to be male-dominated professions. There is only 17 per cent of women in the executive and higher administrative grades. They are still involved in factory work in clothing and textiles in the unskilled areas. The drive in our training schools and education schemes must be to give them the opportunities. That is what the Department of Education policy is through the schools and what FÁS policy is through the training courses. It is only by doing that progressively that we will change something that has been there for generations.
What about child care facilities?
I want to deal now with Private Notice Questions. The time for priority questions is well and truly exhausted.
On a point of order, I would express my disappointment that the Chair ruled out of order my question in relation to Namibia.
That is not a point of order. It is a point of disorder.
I want to turn it into a point of order. I would argue the urgency, in that by the time this Dáil resumes again the election process will either have commenced or have been disrupted in Namibia, based on the threat from the South Africans last night to remobilise their forces. I fail to understand how the Chair ruled my question out on the basis of lack of urgency, but I now seek the Chair's indulgence in allowing me to raise this on the Adjournment this evening.
I will communicate with the Deputy in that regard.