Gender Pay Gap: women in Europe still work 59 days "for free"

Women in Europe still work 59 days ‘for free’ – this is what the latest figures released by the European Commission show. The gender pay gap – the average difference between women and men’s hourly earnings across the entire economy – has barely moved in recent years and still stands at around 16% (it stands at 16.4% as the year before).

The gender pay gap is shown as a percentage of men’s earnings and represents the difference between the average gross hourly earnings of male and female employees across the EU economy. The latest figures show an average 16.4% gender pay gap in 2012 across the European Union. They show stagnation after a slight downward trend in recent years, with the figure around 17% or higher in previous years.

Find out more details on the Gender pay gap EC page.

Do we want to improve Europe, or give it up?

This week EC president Barroso delivered the 4th State of the Union Address in the European Parliament, and what is being called the Case for Europe.

"My answer is clear', he continued: 'Engage! If you don't like Europe as it is: improve it!

As any human endeavor the EU is not perfect. Controversies about the division of labour between the national and European levels will never be conclusively ended. 

Not everything needs a solution at European level. Europe must focus on where it can add most value. It does not have to meddle where this is not the case. 

The EU needs to be big on big things and smaller on smaller things."

The key messages are ready for your dissemination and/or debate!

2011 - The European Year of Volunteering

2010 a fost cu siguranta anul declarat al saraciei si al excluziunii sociale...

Nu stiu cat de mult s-a imbunatatit situatia dar stiu ca lumea nu va deveni mai buna decat daca participam cu totii activ la lupta cu problemele sociale.

De la anu vom avea o justificare in plus sa o facem fiindca Comisia a decis ca 2011 sa fie anul european pentru voluntariat! Se cauta logo, slogan si mai ales multi voluntari ;)

Haidem cu totii sa dam o mana de ajutor: sunt convins ca vom avea ocazia ;)

How do you do Brussels?

The same team that did the How Do You Do Moscow project, are launching the same concept but in Brussels!

What is it about?

The project consists in presenting a mix of 60-70 profiles (protagonists): with persons that live/work in Brussels but do not have a Belgium nationality, so that to capture a diversity of Brussels in terms of world nationalities, languages, ages, jobs, activities...everything that can concentrate the magic of Brussels. Each profile will have 1 black & white photo and a short interview about what they like or don't like here, what is their favorite park, what are the best waffles in Brussels and so on...The photos need to be expressive/funny/cool and will be done in a location relevant for this City (like Grand Place, Atomium...)

For the photos, the project team has contacted the Photo Club of the Commission. There are around 11 photographers that will search for the profiles and do the photos (around 10 profiles each). When all the photos are ready, a team of professional photographers together with some exposition curators will choose the profiles that will be promoted: on the website, the booklet, the media and in a large exposition at BOZAR!

These are some of the profiles that are needed: student, French teacher, BD cartoonist, director/producer, theatre actor, writer/author, TV presenter, Volunteer, Taxi Driver, Refugee, Waffle\Ice-cream\Fries seller, Velo Mechanic, Blogger, bus/tram driver, Cartoonist, Dancer, Butcher, Home maker, Lobbyist, Nutrionist, Priest...

This list is open so please feel free to suggest ;)

If you are interested I would like to take your photo ;) It will be FUN!!!