Sweden: unions want equal pay between men and women to be a priority for the coming wage negotiations

Better compliance with anti-discrimination laws. Despite an internal study showing a relative improvement in women’s situation, the federation of private employees’ unions, Unionen, thinks that the gender pay gap would be smaller if businesses complied with anti-discrimination laws (diskrimineringslagen). Thus, it says that 53% of businesses do not register wages within their company, which they are compelled to do by law. Yet, this inventory shows that four in ten businesses can’t explain the gap. Therefore, this tool is useful to fight against wage discrimination and serves as a basis for negotiations between the company and the unions. Besides, Landsörganisationen (LO, workers’ union) noted that, in two years, the unions’ female members got higher pay raises than men (8.7% as opposed to 8.3%). Per Bardh, agreement secretary for LO, rejoiced with this and reasserted that wage equality would be one of the confederation’s priorities for the renewal of collective agreements in 2010.
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ganisationen (LO, workers’
union) noted that, in two years, the unions’ female members got higher pay
raises than men (8.7% as opposed to 8.3%). Per Bardh, agreement secretary for
LO, rejoiced with this and reasserted that wage equality would be one of the confederation’s
priorities for the renewal of collective agreements in 2010.

A divided labor market
leading to unequal pay
. A study published by the Finance Ministry in September shows that
women still earn less than men: in 2008, in average,

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