Gender pay gap is not only a local or a national issue but it has become a global phenomenon. Although factors contributing to gender pay gap are numerous, the one factor that stands out is that of the same qualification, same work and different pay.
Other factors are the reality of women becoming late entrants in the job market and thus most of them occupying lower positions. The same can be said about their male counterparts when compared to their while male counterparts. As the black male employees struggles to catch up with the white male counterparts, women are further subjected to occupy lower earning positions, continuing and sustaining the legacy of the gender salary gap.
In some pockets of the traditionally male dominated private sector, the practice of keeping women in lower paying jobs or paying different salaries based on gender, could still be the case and most of the disparities are to be found in this sector.
The South African National Gender Policy Framework is a document that defines the country’s vision and states what it plans to do to achieve this vision. It provides the framework by providing broad guidelines. It is directive and prescriptive on minimum standards for the institutional framework, key indicators and national goals. All of these have direct impact for the development of sector specific policies and plans of action. It is a policy framework that is guided by national imperatives. It addresses needs by proposing mechanisms that were articulated by women and men who engaged in the consultative process that resulted in enshrining gender equality into the National Constitution.
As to how far this has assisted in closing the gender pay disparity, is still to be proven as government struggles to reach its 50/50 gender parity at senior management level.
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reports that South African women earn 23% less than their male counterparts. The country is ranked number 19 in a new global index report on gender inequality released by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The report revealed that even though women hold higher positions than before, the gender pay gap in the country has increased.
On a global scale, depending on countries, many statistics vary on how women lose out to men on salary difference for doing similar work. This has raised eyebrows and has become a controversial topic; people have questioned how this is even possible.
Based on research, the imbalance of salaries between men and women is different because of sectors: whether it is a private or public sector, occupations, location, as well as companies.
According to Nthabiseng Baloyi (34), A Logistics Officer, the issue is that men are still in power because of some male dominated fields such as mining, which also contribute to gender inequality because men are the majority. “I still believe that this situation can be changed but it might take decades to get where we should be,” she said.
Georgina Riba (28), a front line officer at Standard Bank, said that at her workplace, there is transparency when it comes to salaries. However, on performance bonuses, there is still secrecy and between the employer and employee.
A math teacher from Soshanguve High School, Nakedi Masipa (40), said that it is unfair for women to earn less when they have the same qualifications as their male colleagues. “Regardless of gender, as long as one is qualified, the salary should be the same,” he said. Masipa said that there should be transparency within companies and their employers should be able to voice out their concerns if there is an issue regarding their salaries.
“It is a must for companies to disclose information regarding salaries to their employees although some might not do this because they know who earns more than who. So they try to hide behind the employee confidentiality agreement,” said Eddie Dhliwayo (52) a Salesman. He said that it would be fair because some employees would then be aware of what they should actually be earning instead of their employers misleading them.
The findings on salary differences may vary but they all have one thing in common, some women can still be getting lower salaries despite their qualifications. Inequality in the workplace will be with us for some time and women emancipation will still see women suffer as a result of the legacy of their position in society as they continue to be discrimination in some sectors.
