AKEL on the Global Gender Gap Report and Cyprus

Cyprus ranked in second lowest position across the EU and 92 out of 149 countries worldwide

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 8 February 2019, Nicosia

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, Cyprus is ranked in the second lowest position throughout the EU and ranks 92 out of 149 countries worldwide. This is reflected in the wage gap of 13.9% for work of equal value between the two sexes that is recorded in Cyprus.

This depressing picture does not change no matter how much the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance chooses to highlight that there has been a percentage reduction in the gap, especially when given that this reduction is fictitious as it stemmed from the reduction of wages in occupations where men are primarily employed and not from the improvement in women’s salaries/wages.

Instead of distorting figures to engage in communication games, the government should deal with the essence of the problem, focus on promoting measures to provide support that will respond to the multidimensional character of the gap and enhance the social role of women. They should at long last understand that they have been governing for six years now.