Equal pay for work of equal value. Memorandum

The committee adopted the report by Mrs Maria Paola COLOMBO SVEVO (PPE, I) on the memorandum on equal pay for work of equal value. The report requested that the IGC propose a new wording of Article 119 of the Treaty on equal pay in accordance with the case law of the European Court of Justice. Following the agreement concluded between the social partners, the Council was called upon to rapidly adopt the proposal concerning parental leave and the Member States to transpose the agreement into national law. The social partners should enter into negotiations as soon as possible on reversal of the burden of proof, atypical work and part-time work. If no agreement was concluded, the Commission should submit proposals. The report called on the Member States to incorporate into their legislation appropriate positive action, particularly with regard to training and the organisation of work in order to reduce wage differences. They should also take into account in their equal pay policy the problems behind the existence of low-pay sectors. Furthermore, the Member States should reach an agreement on reconciling work and family life as soon as possible. In cooperation with the social partners, they should promote the participation of women in negotiations on collective agreements, including those relating to pay. The social partners should also organise campaigns to provide information on equal pay for work of equal value, particularly for negotiators of collective agreements. The Commission was called on to include a report on the progress made in its annual report to the EP on equal opportunities. �