Submitted By: Intern Jemini Shrestha
In the years of work I have witnessed a slow evolution towards equality both in the workplace and in society, however, the gender pay gap remains one of the utmost problems almost everywhere. Women are still getting less paid than men for doing the same work or work of comparable value. This difference in wages is explained by numerous, highly intricate and deeply embedded historical, social, and economic factors. Solving this is not just an issue of social justice in terms of employment, but also income disparities that cater the society at large.
During my time with Volunteers Initiative Nepal ( VIN ), I worked as a women’s empowerment intern and was in constant touch with qualified women in Tarkeshwar, who somehow still made less than their male counterparts. This made me wonder: What is the reason behind this? What steps can be taken towards closing the pay gap and fostering equal pay policies?
What Causes The Gender Wage Gap?
The reasons for differing income amongst males and females are diverse. Some of these reasons are:
Employment Discrimination And Prejudice
In many fields, men still tend to dominate when it comes to getting positions in management, being promoted, or getting pay increases. Women are often viewed as less committed to their jobs because they have family responsibilities.
Salary Negotiation Absence
Women unwilling to ask for higher pay to avoid being labelled as ‘too aggressive’ compared to men, who regularly demand better pay, which goes without saying massively influences the workplace salary transparency gap.
Insufficient Measures for Equal Payment Policies
A lot of companies do not have solid pay structures that can safeguard pay for employees at the same level, resulting in gaps.
Career Breaks
Women often take career leaves for maternity or to tend to the elderly. Consequently, they lose promotions and pay increases which their colleagues capture in the long run.
Over Concentration Among Women in Undoubtedly Paying Jobs
This ‘No Fault’ Syndrome explanation states that most women work in low paying occupations, while men dominate in high paying professions like information technology, finance, and engineering. This issue also exacerbates with a lack of appropriate labor regulations.
What Is The Best Way A Woman Can Get Paid
A Woman’s salary deserves more focus in primary earnings as a way to lessen the general gap between men and women. Here are some of those methods.
Research Your Industry
Before talking about salary, women should strive to know the pay range for their position. Specialists in the field of business with similar positions can be referenced in websites like PayScale and Glassdoor.
Mention Expectation With Evidence
Instead of overly general expectations, women should articulate expectations with evidential skills, contributions, and impact on organization’s bottom line.
Speak Voices Of Authority And Leadership
Using phrases such as, “From my experience, and along with industry standards, I believe a suitable compensation would be…” makes a significant impact.
Leverage Other Offers
Possessing different job offers or having information about the market average salary strengthens bargaining power.
What Laws Exist to Promote Pay Equality?
To combat the issue of unequal income within the society, several countries have passed laws aimed at equal pay. The major ones are:
- First World Countries (USA, 1963): Act ensures men and women are given equal remuneration for doing equal work.
- UK Gender Pay Gap Reporting (2017): Citizens are permitted to know the extent to which large organizations pay their male employees and their counterpart female employees.
- Nepal’s Labor Act (2017): Provides for equal pay for equal work without discrimination based on sex for recruitment, promotion and remuneration. However, implementation remains problematic in many areas. There needs to be stronger legislation on compensation transparency.
How Does the Pay Gap Affect Women’s Career Progression?
The gender pay gap affects not only immediate earnings but also long-term career growth:
Lower Lifetime Earnings
Women, on average, earn less over their working life, which diminishes their capacity to save and invest.
Less Promotion Opportunities
Owing to lower-wage gaps, women have often remained in the lower ranks and in less paying jobs.
Retirement Inequality
Women tend to possess lesser pensions and savings which makes financial security during older age difficult.
In What Way Can Employers Help in Achieving Equal Pay?
Equal payment remuneration is very difficult to meet especially when it covers the wage gap. Here are some strategies that could be followed:
Performing Salary Variance Analysis
Frequent audits assist in discovering and correcting income gaps in the company.
Establishing Bona Fide Occupational Pay Discrimination
Salary bands are put in place to restrict discrimination with regard to wages.
Accepting and Encouraging Salary Negotiations for Women
Women are more confident in asking for fair pay when they are given negotiation workshops.
Improving Work Life Balance
Affordable and flexible work, parental leave, and child support can enable women to progress in their careers.
To Conclude
The above outline demonstrates that the issue of gender wage gap is not a problem of women only, but of the whole family and economy. Opening opportunities to all citizens, because stronger laws and changes in workplace policies can mitigate and hopefully eradicate the wage difference.
As an intern myself, I am a living testament to the economic empowerment it brings to a woman’s life. Campaigning for pay transparency, fair compensation, and equal opportunity for women is the path we must walk along. A future is possible where women are truly paid and valued for their exceptional skills.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What contributes towards the gender disparity in earnings?
Economic disparity is due to discrimination on the job, different methods of wage bargaining, unequal assignment of duties, career breaks, and lack of representation in leadership roles with high payout.
How can women best approach salary negotiations?
Women can improve salary negotiations by researching industry pay scales, rejecting claims of low compensation politely, and stating the amount required in an assertive manner.
What policies aim at ensuring equal payment to employees?
Important acts include the Equal Pay Act (USA), UK Gender Pay Gap Reporting, and the Labor Act (2017) of Nepal. They all aim at providing equal payment within the system of their enforcement which differs from country to country.
In which other ways does the pay gap impact a woman’s career growth?
Earning less over the course of a career leads women to have less money for retirement, fewer promotions, and lower savings, making greater financial difficulty easier in the long-run.
What actions can employers take to ensure equal pay?
Employers should conduct regular salary audits, implement transparent pay structures, encourage women to negotiate salaries, and provide support for work-life balance.
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