Observed on September 18th, International Equal Pay Day highlights the global effort to close the gender pay gap, which remains a significant barrier to gender equality. Women worldwide still earn approximately 20% less than men, with this disparity driven by structural inequalities, poverty, and limited access to resources. Despite global commitments to equal pay, progress has been slow, with gender stereotypes and discriminatory practices continuing to undermine women’s economic empowerment.
The Role of Equal Pay in Advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize equal pay as essential to achieving gender equality and economic growth. By advocating for equal pay for work of equal value, the SDGs aim to ensure that all individuals, including women, young people, and persons with disabilities, have access to decent and productive employment. Achieving this goal is crucial for advancing the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
At the root of the gender pay gap are deep-seated inequalities. Women, particularly migrant workers, are overrepresented in low-paying, informal sectors, and continue to shoulder a disproportionate amount of unpaid care work. The “motherhood penalty” further exacerbates wage disparities, especially in undervalued sectors like care work, where women make up the majority of the workforce but often face low wages.
EPIC’s Global Effort: Uniting Forces to Close the Gender Pay Gap and Advance Human Rights
The Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC), led by the International Labour Organization (ILO), UN Women, and the OECD, is working to address these challenges by uniting governments, employers, and civil society to tackle the gender pay gap. Achieving equal pay is not just about fairness—it’s a critical milestone in advancing human rights and gender equality on a global scale.