ZAGREB, March 6, 2019 – The most frequent obstacle on the labour market in Croatia concerns discrimination against women based on age and motherhood, women account for 58% of the unemployed persons, 62% of men are aware that their status at work is more privileged than that of women, while in terms of the pay gap, Croatia is above the EU average, it was said at a conference on gender equality at work in Zagreb on Wednesday.
“When we consider the overall situation in Croatia, we can say that we are better than the EU average with regard to the employment of women and the gender pay gap. The average gender pay gap in the EU is 16-17% while in Croatia it ranges between 8 and 10%,” Labour and Pension System Minister Marko Pavić said at the conference, organised by IKEA and the European Parliament Office in Croatia.
The Labour and Pension System Ministry has 14 billion kuna at its disposal from the European Social Fund and the ministry’s biggest project is a project for the employment of women.
So far, 6,000 women with an unfavourable labour market status have found employment as part of the ministry programme “Make a wish”. Significant funds have also been invested in supporting a directive on work-life balance, said Pavić.
Swedish Ambassador Diana Helen Madunić said that the Swedish government, together with Swedish companies, had defined a policy of promoting sustainable business and gender equality which, among other things, also refers to a gender balance on management boards and a balanced parental leave for women and men.
We believe that sustainability and gender equality are key to business success. Women account for 50% of the world’s population and we have to involve them and use their resources and abilities to create successful business for the future, said Madunić.
Croatian Gender Equality Ombudswoman Višnja Ljubičić said the majority of complaints her office received referred to gender discrimination and that more than two in three women who approached the office complained about gender discrimination.
“The obstacles they report primarily concern the labour market, 45-60% of the complaints refer to that. The most frequent obstacle women encounter on the labour market is discrimination based on age and motherhood,” Ljubičić said.
More news on the status of women in Croatia can be found in the Politics section.
