Difference in lifetime wage by 100 million yen between men and women! - Demand for wage gap adjustment

The lifetime wage gap between a husband and his wife who has the same scholastic background as his and starts to work in the same year as him is 100 million yen (1 million US dollars). Despite the Equal Employment Opportunity Law, working women in Japan are still facing a glass ceiling and fighting against discriminatory treatment. On May 8, 2013, many women from various backgrounds participated in a meeting to “give the Equal Employment Opportunity Law teeth”, which was held at the House of Councilors Hall, and demanded lawmakers accordingly. The law has been revised twice since it came into effect in 1985, but gender gaps still remain in many workplaces. In view of the Upper House election scheduled in this summer, various women’s rights groups have stood up for a third revision of the law through lively discussions at the council of the house. (MATSUMOTO Chie)

生涯収入で1億円の差！～「男女格差是正」法改正もとめ院内集会

入社同期で同学歴の夫との生涯収入を比較計算すると、１億円の差があった――

男女雇用均等法がある現在でも、日本の働く女性たちは、職場で昇進の壁にぶち

当たり、差別的な扱いと闘い続けている。「均等法を男女雇用平等法に！」と題

して５月８日に参議院会館で開かれた集会では、さまざまな背景の女性たちが集

まり、均等法を「使える法律」に改正しようと、出席した議員などに働きかけた。

１９８５年に施工された男女雇用均等法は、これまで２回の改正を経たが、多く

の働く現場ではいまだに格差是正がされていない。今回、夏に参議院選挙を控え

た段階で、審議会での議論を活発化させ３回目の改正を目指すために、複数の女

性権利団体が立ち上がった。（松元ちえ）