Gender Equality Commissioner effort to eliminate inequalities in salaries and pensions

Newly appointed Gender Equality Commissioner, Josie Christodoulou, has told CNA that she has already met with Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou, in order to discuss measures to eliminate gender inequalities in salaries and pensions. Addressing inequality in the workplace is among her top priorities she said.

Christodoulou was speaking to CNA on the occasion of World Women’s Day.

Referring to the meeting she had with Panayiotou, she said that "we have already drafted measures against the gender gap in salaries and pensions and there are measures that we will try to implement.”  

She added that another goal is to enhance the role of inspectors that examine complaints about equal pay, as well as to prioritise a joint evaluation of the salary gap.

“There are many cases of gender inequality that have not yet surfaced,” Christodoulou said, when asked about the latest cases she had to deal with, regarding the promotion of women in the National Guard and the participation of girls’ basketball national team in FIBA’s international tournaments.

Gender equality is a priority for president Christodoulides, the Commissioner reaffirmed, saying that “there is political will for horizontal equality policies throughout all of the Ministries and Deputy Ministries.”

In a press release about the World Women’s Day, the Commissioner’s Office notes that the violation of women’s’ rights indicates lack of democratic values and progress and adds that this day should be a reminder that there can be no rest in the struggle for the elimination of any inequality.