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New book: Everything at stake - safeguarding interests in a world without frontiers Gender discrimination accounts for half of pay differential between women and men Helsinki (02.09.2001 - Juhani Artto) The pay gap between men and women in Finland has persistently remained at an average of 25 to 30 per cent despite a huge number of studies, programmes, initiatives, seminars, task forces, negotiations and an ongoing struggle to reduce and abolish this differential. How can this failure be explained? Preliminary results of a new study, made by Dr Juhana Vartiainen, an economist from the Labour Institute for Economic Research, reveals that about half of the gap is due to gender discrimination. The remainder consists of differences in background between men and women in such aspects as education and work experience. The study is based on large volume of statistical material collected by Statistics Finland. The comparison was made between men and women in full-time jobs. The worst gender discrimination is in demanding salaried jobs. The gap is smaller in low-pay and the very highest paid occupations. Dr Vartiainen emphasises that gender discrimination cannot be identified without a subtle and precise job classification effectively illustrating the level of job requirement in various occupations. The study seeks not only to explain the reasons for the pay gap, but also to develop a method of monitoring the differential statistically. Source: Pirjo Pajunen, "Puolet palkkaerosta selittyy syrjinnällä" [half of pay differential explained by discrimination], Palkkatyöläinen [the newspaper of the Confederation of Finish Trade Unions SAK] edition 3-2001. For further background see: Summary of the SAK membership survey 2000 Ms Riitta Partinen, SAK Equal Opportunities Secretary: "We all benefit from the gender difference", an interview with Juhani Artto (Ms Partinen retired in April 2001) |
Documents of the SAK 16th Congress 28-30.5.2001 Ten years of working conditions in the European Union, Eurofound's research summary (pdf-file) In terms of real property, one Finland equals two Nokias, Helsingin Sanomat 08.01.2001 The growth of the Finnish economy did not eradicate unemployment, Helsingin Sanomat 03.01.2001 Only one Finn in nine actually retire as late as 65, Helsingin Sanomat 02.01.2001 Incomes policy agreement approved; The incomes policy agreement in a nutshell;The economic backgrounf of the incomes policy agreement SAK 15.12.2000 Collective bargaining in Finland 1999-2000, Pekka Sauramo, Labour Institute for Economic Research, Helsinki (pdf-file) Working environment greater cause of absenteeism than lifestyle Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 05.12.2000 New job creation down 50 % this year Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 01.12.2000 Made in Hong Finland Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 28.11.2000 Bars and restaurants among Finland's most hazardous work places Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 27.11.2000 Finland faces labour shortage in all sectors in 2005 Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 23.11.2000 New two-year incomes agreement announced Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 17.11.2000 Increased disparities in wealth distribution Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 09.11.2000 Floating shopping centers might become a thing of the past Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 24.10.2000 SAK member unions vote to go with two-year wage deal Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 03.10.2000 National Economy and State Finances Ministry of Finance Occupational Safety and Health Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Dispute highlights threats to Finnish seafarers' jobs eironline Strikes break out as bargaining round nears conclusion eironline "Barometer" examines industrial relations in Baltic states eironline Strike levels fall in 1999 eironline Action programme launched to promote "ability to cope" at work eironline SAK computer campaign proves successful eironline European working time conference held in Helsinki eironline
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