Tánaiste Leo Varadkar is to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality today to discuss the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality regarding pay and workplace conditions.
In its report, the Citizens’ Assembly recommended that the State should set targets in legislation to reduce the hourly gender pay gap to 9% by 2025 and to 4% by 2030, with a view to eliminating it by 2035.
According to Eurostat data, the current gender pay gap in Ireland is 11.3%.
On Monday, a new guide for trade unions on gender pay gap reporting was launched.
Under new legislation, organisations with over 250 employees will have to report on their gender pay gaps later this year.
Businesses are required to choose a “snapshot” date of their employees in June 2022 and then report on the hourly gender pay gap for those employees on the same date in December 2022.
Employers will also be required to publish a statement setting out the reasons for the gender pay gap in their company, and what measures are being taken to address it.
Gender Equality Committee Cathaoirleach Ivana Bacik said members were looking forward to discussing pay and workplace conditions with the Tánaiste today in light of Budget 2023 being announced on Tuesday.
“We will also discuss the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly’s report relating to politics, public life and workplace,” Ms Bacik said.
“The Assembly recommended improving family friendly practices for representatives of all genders such as providing parental and maternity leave and flexible working and voting arrangements,” she added.