Equality of women on the employment market - Finally an issue in Slovakia

To a certain extent, the employment market reflects the social situation and mutual acceptance of women and men. After years of formal gender equality, Slovakia is finally taking steps to meet one of the criteria set by the EU for 2007-2013 as a target for all operative programmes. Experts met to discuss the subject at an international conference on work, family and equality of opportunity in Bratislava in November 2007.

Gap between men and women on the employment market becoming wider

The index of dissimilarity for 1996 and 2006 confirms the growing gap between men and women on Slovakia's employment market. This result is corroborated by a study by Margita Barošová at the Institute for Labour and Family Research (IVPR) in Bratislava. Men occupy 72.1 per cent of managerial positions, while the role of women in scientific professions, where they account for 57.7 per cent of positions, is becoming more important. The situation in the health service and in education is similar, with women having 58.4 per cent of positions.

In the service industry and retail trade the proportion of women, currently at 68.9 per cent, is also growing steadily. Only among civil servants has the gap narrowed, but here too women lead with 69.4 per cent. Altogether the ratio is 55.9 per cent to 44.1 per cent in favour of men. This trend for the period 1996-2006 confirms that the gap between men and women in the employment market is widening.

What are the possible remedies?

Margita Barošová suggests that remedies must be sought in combating the causes, which she localises in the prevailing stereotyping of gender roles during upbringing, and in education, employment and work conditions. She calls for more involvement by non-governmental organisations, media, the public sector and social partners. In the 21st century, equality of opportunity for men and women should be a component of preschool and school education. According to Barošová, this could help to prevent women being disadvantaged in their future careers.

Countermeasures by the government

The Slovakian government is also aware of the problem and has been taking steps to create an institutional framework with the creation in September 2007 of a parliamentary standing committee for equality of opportunity. It will be composed not only of MPs and members of the government but also of representatives of NGOs. The government has also set up a council for gender mainstreaming. This council will have an advisory function, offering suggestions for initiatives, recommendations and draft proposals on gender equality.

Contact

Institute for Labour and Family Research (IVPR), Bratislava