This Monday, March 21 marks the day when women have made up their salary difference with men.
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It is an American foundation, the BPW, which is at the origin of the celebration of this symbolic day. The “Equal Pay Day”, the day of the equivalent pay is the day which comes to mark the number of working days worked for free by women to catch up with what men receive. The “Equal Pay Day” is based on the latest data from INSEE, which highlights an average difference of 21.8%.
“In 2021, the fiscal year for men ended on December 31 and women symbolically work 55 additional working days, from January 1 to March 21, which is the day of “Equal Pay Day” in France in 2022, to symbolize this pay gap.”specifies Valentine Viard, president of the national federation BPW France.
It is not easy to compare from year to year, since the latest figures from INSEE date from 2017. Nevertheless, the BPW foundation has been setting the date for “Equal Pay Day” in France for fourteen years, based on on available studies.
“We see very little change on this date. Five years ago, for example, we were on March 25, and today we are on March 21.”
Valentine Viardon franceinfo
However, one element can allow us to be optimistic. This is the equal pay index set up by a 2018 law. Equal pay is measured on five criteria with a maximum score of 100. This year, the average score was up by one point at 86 out of 100.
The BPW foundation asks in particular that companies which do not obtain the minimum score cannot bid for public contracts.