Doc. 9790

10 April 2003

Discrimination of women in the workforce and the workplace

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mrs Err and others

1.       The Assembly is concerned that women continue to be discriminated against in both the workforce and the workplace. This discrimination takes various forms, and its extent varies from country to country. However, some worrying phenomena can be observed in practically all Council of Europe member states.

2.       First of all, concerning discrimination in the workforce: many women are being denied full access to the labour market. In times of economic recession and high unemployment such as these, women are increasingly being encouraged to "stay at home" or to take part-time jobs only, so as to allow the male "breadwinners" to remain in full-time employment. This mentality persists in most of European society despite the fact that in many families, women have taken over the role of main family "breadwinner" (not necessarily as a matter of choice, e.g. in situations such as divorce or male redundancies). Some companies - in particular small enterprises - are quite open about their reluctance to hire women, especially women of child-bearing age. The higher the position in question, the more difficult it often becomes for a female applicant to be hired, regardless of her qualifications and experience.

3.       Second, the discrimination of women does not stop there: in the workplace, women are also being discriminated against. Recent European statistics have once more shown that women receive, on average, less pay for the same work (up to 30% less). Women who manage to break through the
so-called "glass ceiling" into decision-making positions remain the exception to the rule. The fact that affirmative-action programmes are increasingly being put into question in some countries further exacerbates this problem.

4.       The Assembly considers that the Council of Europe and its member states must take concrete measures to fight against the discrimination of women in the workforce and in the workplace. In particular, measures should be taken to:

i. ensure that women are granted full access to the labour market;

ii. close the wage gap between women and men;

iii. encourage the hiring and promotion of qualified women to decision-making positions in both the private and the public sector.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

Err, Luxembourg, SOC

Bindig, Germany, SOC

Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR

Čurdová, Czech Republic, SOC

Dreyfus-Schmidt, France, SOC

Etherington, United Kingdom, SOC

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Judd, United Kingdom, SOC

Pericleous Papadopoulos, Cyprus, LDR

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

Zwerver, Netherlands, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group