Companies to disclose wage information to tackle gap between genders

By Kim Bo-eun

The government said Wednesday it will make companies disclose information on wages in an effort to eliminate the gender pay gap.

The measure is part of a five-year plan to promote gender equality unveiled by the gender ministry, Wednesday, after a committee meeting presided over by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon.

“The plan aims to increase an awareness of gender equality, promote equality at workplaces, achieve a work-life balance and improve the health and safety of women,” the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, Chung Hyun-back, said in a briefing at the Seoul Government Complex.

This is the second set of measures since those unveiled in 2015. Despite efforts, a 2016 survey showed 62.6 percent believed women are subject to inequality.

The measures were drawn up based on the survey, which stated that overcoming the gender wage gap and increasing men’s participation in household duties and childcare are some of the most urgent tasks.

According to data from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, women are paid 63.2 percent of what men earn. The 36.8 percent gap far exceeds the OECD average of 14.3 percent.

Included in the package is an earlier announced measure to improve female representation in senior positions in the public sector. Measures will be taken to increase the percentage of women in the military and police forces.

The government will also encourage the private sector to take part in the effort, by disclosing their percentages of female executives and by providing education and consulting for them.

Meanwhile, the government will boost efforts to help women who have left the labor market due to child rearing to return.

To enable this, the number of public childcare centers within workplaces will be increased.

The government also will seek to lengthen the period of paid paternity care.

Also included are plans for studies into the possible harmfulness of sanitary pads, after a scandal erupted over alleged side effects caused by a certain manufacturer’s product.

Another new measure is an effort to tackle issues of stalking, dating violence and cyber sex crimes.