In Luxembourg, the impact of the wage difference between men and women is reflected this year in a symbolic milestone: last Monday, November 17th, female workers entered the period of the year that represents unpaid working days. The date results from the annual calculation of wage inequality and marks the point at which, symbolically, women’s income stops following that of men.
According to the OGBL trade union, cited by the news portal Contacto, the wage difference in the country is currently 13.9%. Converted into days, this disparity means that the last 45 days of the year are no longer paid to women, a way of making visible the gap that remains between both genders in the job market.
Invisible work and unpaid burden
Inequality, however, is not limited to salary. According to the same source, there is a set of daily tasks that are not included in any salary sheet: domestic responsibilities, monitoring dependent family members and mental management of the routine. European data cited from the OECD shows that women dedicate, on average, twice as much time to unpaid work compared to men.
The same portal writes that this reality contributes to more fragmented careers and a greater female presence in roles that are not recognized in the professional sphere. Furthermore, the use of part-time employment often arises as a consequence of these responsibilities, and not as an independent choice.
Recent reforms worsen the existing gap
The union center also warns of the impact of ongoing legislative changes. The publication adds that reforms, such as pensions, changes to working time regimes and adjustments to business hours, could deepen the already existing imbalance. According to OGBL, these proposals ignore the work that sustains daily life and which, as it is not formalized, rarely receives appreciation.
The numbers illustrate this trend. The same source states that 36% of women work part-time, contrasting with less than 8% of men. This difference is reflected years later, resulting in lower pensions, less financial security and greater economic dependence. Currently, the average difference between men’s and women’s pensions is around 40%.
Impact on career and collection of testimonials
The OGBL adds that the majority of women who work fewer hours do not do so by choice. It explains why many reduce hours to ensure family care, which means fewer contributions, shortened careers and lower income throughout their working lives.
The trade union central uses the expression “behind a great man there is always a great woman” to illustrate that, despite its age, the phrase continues to reflect a social dynamic where the weight of domestic organization falls significantly on women, conditioning professional and personal choices.
In this context, OGBL Equality launched a survey last Monday dedicated to mental workload and work performed outside the paid system. According to the same source, each response collected will be used to support proposals for changes to laws and planned reforms, seeking to reduce the accumulated impact of this inequality.
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