Women are still getting paid less than men, according to a new report released by the Canadian Labour Congress.
In fact, for today’s younger, more educated working woman, it pays a lot less than it did just ten years ago.
The reports says women in Canada who worked full-time, full-year jobs in 2005 earned just 70.5¢ for every dollar earned by men in full-time, full-year jobs. This compares with 72¢ women earned for every dollar earned by men doing similar work in the 1990s.
Furthermore, the report highlights that women with post-secondary degrees have lost the most ground. Ten years ago, the wage gap saw them earning 75¢ for every dollar earned by men with the same qualifications. Today, their earnings have slipped to just 68¢.
“Canada’s economy has a problem — it pays women less than men. It pays women less even when we are just as skilled, just as educated and work just as long,” says Barbara Byers, executive vp of the CLC.
The CLC says many employers demand long hours from full-time workers, fail to provide work schedules which match family needs, and penalize workers who take temporary leaves. This pushes many women into part-time jobs that are more unstable and pay less. It forces them to pay a big price if they drop out of the workforce for a year or two, or decide to work very long hours and not have children.
The report makes several recommendations:
- Change minimum labour standards so an hour of part-time work gets paid the same as an hour of full-time work.
- Raise the minimum wage to at least $10 an hour.
- Improve public pensions so women, who live longer, aren’t penalized for taking time away from the workforce to care for children.
- Improve access to affordable, quality child care.