Reducing Gender Wage Gaps

12 March 2015

The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” – Gloria Steinem

As a prelude to International Women’s Day, senior human resources officials attended a seminar on wage equality sponsored by the Equal Pay Project and hosted by the Manufacturers Association of Israel on March 1st.

Women in Israel earn an average of 31.9% less than their male counterparts in similar positions. The Equal Pay Project, run by Shatil, the Israel Women’s Network, the Adva Center and Israel’s Equal Opportunities Employment Commission, is working on a number of initiatives to level the playing field.

Knowing that collaborating with employers is key to bridging the gender wage gap, the seminar organizers recruited the Manufacturers Association of Israel — representing 2,000 industrial organizations, which in turn are responsible for more than 95% of the country’s industrial production – to attend and discuss key issues pertaining to wage parity.

Speakers at the seminar included representatives of the Project as well as the head of the Manufacturers Association. Attendees also learned about the Project’s innovative new online equal pay tool, which helps companies assess wage gaps in their organizations. And Association President Shraga Brosh called for a round table composed of representatives of the Project and of industry in order to promote wage equality.

The event was an important step in engaging employers to assume increased responsibility for proactively working toward equal wages. The project will soon publish a guide for employers on implementing organizational processes to equalize wages.

Photo Credit: Israel New Shekels (Flickr user Michael Plump)