In Burgenland

Women should earn the same as men

Eisenkopf with Karina Ringhofer, Head of the Society Department, and Martina Knartz, Head of the Women's Department.

(Bild: LMS)

The gender pay gap in Burgenland is the second smallest in Austria. But that is not enough for Deputy Provincial Governor and Women's Affairs Councillor Astrid Eisenkopf. She wants to close the so-called "gender pay gap" completely.

Since yesterday, employed women in Burgenland have been working for free until the end of the year, statistically speaking, because they still earn 15.6 percent less than their equally qualified male colleagues. This is partly due to the fact that women are often employed in lower-paid sectors such as retail and care, are often absent from the labor market for years due to maternity leave and unpaid care work and therefore have a poorer hand in salary negotiations.

Equal Pay Day, an international day of action, draws attention to this pay gap. In order to combat monetary inequality, the province relies on various subsidies, which, according to Deputy Governor and Women's Affairs Councillor Astrid Eisenkopf, are already having an effect: 

The fact that Equal Pay Day in Burgenland fell on November 5 this year, while it was already reached throughout Austria on November 1, shows that our measures are taking effect. Burgenland now has the second smallest difference in the average income of women and men compared to the rest of Austria.

Landeshauptmann-Stellvertreterin Astrid Eisenkopf

In order to further close the pay gap, the government wants to encourage girls and women to pursue careers in higher-paid sectors and promote female start-up projects and paternity leave. The measures will be set out in the Women's Report 2024, which is to be presented this year.