Europe must demonstrate a renewed political will to deal with the ongoing gap in pay between men and women in Wales if it is to have any credibility in the field of gender equality. That is the key message of a speech to be delivered today (Friday) at the 'Gender in the New Europe Conference' at Cardiff City Hall by Plaid Cymru Deputy Leader Jill Evans MEP.

Ms Evans will highlight recently published data* which shows:

Women in Wales earn on average just 78.6% of what men in Wales earn per week.

Average gross weekly pay for women in Wales is £377.40 compared to £480.40 for men.

The pay gap in Anglesey is the worst in Wales and second worst across Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland where women earn on average 59.3% of men's weekly pay.

Average weekly pay for women in Anglesey is £301.70 compared to £508.60 for men.

Gwynedd has the smallest pay gap in Wales where on average women earn 91.4% of men's weekly pay. (Women - £364.10; Men - £398.50)

In her keynote speech, Jill Evans MEP will say:

"Thirty years after legislation was put in place a study by the GMB trade union highlights how slow progress has been in redressing the gap in earnings between men and women. In Wales, women earn an average weekly wage of £377.40 compared with £480.40 for men. This means that women's weekly pay in Wales lags over twenty per cent behind that of men.

"This ongoing disparity is a shameful scandal, but it doesn't just affect Wales, it is a reality in England, Scotland and in other countries right across Europe, in spite of decades of progressive legislation.

"Legislation by itself, however, will clearly never succeed in delivering equality of earnings. It must be backed up by a political will for change - we need nothing less than a sea change in political culture right across Europe if our leaders are truly sincere about striving for genuine equality between women and men. Europe used to be at the forefront of gender equality - that cannot be left to deteriorate further."

Notes

The event is organised by the National Alliance of Women’s Organisations and the Wales Women’s European Network as part of a series of events across the UK to inform women of the impact of European policies on their lives. Jill Evans MEP will speak at approximately 11.45am.

* The data is drawn from a recent analysis published by the GMB trade union, for more information see the GMB website at www.gmb.org.uk.

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