Correspondents' Correspondence Sex Discrimination
LAND, THOMAS
Sex Discrimination Brussels—European women have made considerable progress in recent years toward the goal of equal pay for equal work. But not enough—at least according to the European Commission,...
...The Commission has stressed, though, that all of its actions are unlikely to overcome working women's greatest barrier: their reluctance to complain lest they be fired...
...Historically, however, neither the Commission nor the member nations have ever been anxious to go that far...
...For instance, because most European women do not go to court with their grievances—Britain, where 2,500 women brought charges in the first two years after the equal pay law was passed, is a spectacular exception—a big international information campaign to insure that employed women are aware of their rights is being considered...
...Another possible step involves bringing together industry and trade union representatives on an international level to seek solutions to the thorniest problems of sex discrimination...
...women are traditionally excluded from that cata-gory...
...Although the principle of equal pay for equal work is enshrined in Article 119 of the 1957 Treaty of Rome (the EEC charter document), this has tended to be largely ignored...
...One exception is the now famous case of a Belgian air hostess who invoked it in a compensation claim against Sabena Airlines, on grounds of "inequality of treatment" between air hostesses and stewards...
...In addition to preparing guidelines, the Commission is contemplating a variety of other measures to improve the situation of women...
...The Danes recognize equal pay for the same work, but not for work of equal value...
...The Dutch exclude women in the public sector from protection under the national equal pay legislation...
...Theoretically, if these are not followed the matter will be taken to court...
...Once this process is completed, guidelines will be issued to the offending governments...
...But not enough—at least according to the European Commission, the executive body of the European Economic Community (EEC...
...If the accused do not take prompt remedial action, they may have to defend themselves before the European Court of Justice, whose judgment would be final...
...And given the increasing scarcity of jobs, this fear is unlikely to abate.—Thomas Land...
...Summer Schedule Publication dates: July 2, July 16, July-30, August 13 No issue August 27 Biweekly publication resumes September 3 Our offices will be closed August 6-August 17 In Britain, the Commission argues, the concept of "work of equal value" is conditionally enforced: A worker can ask for equal pay only if the firm where he or she is employed does not use a job evaluation scheme...
...Differences of opinion and policy are usually settled at an earlier stage...
...And the Germans have failed to adopt a Federal law that provides for equal pay...
...The first, which came into force in 1976, guarantees women the same pay as men for the same work or work of equal value...
...Hoping to remedy the problem, the Commission is currently preparing legal action against seven member states?Britain, France, Belgium, West Germany, Denmark, Luxemburg and Holland—for their poor legislative records on sexual discrimination in employment...
...Thus the Commission has based its case on two recent supranational Community laws...
...At present, the seven countries are defending their positions before the Commission...
...The second, adopted last August, guarantees both sexes equal working conditions as well as equal opportunities for training, jobs, and promotion...
...In France, Belgium and Luxemburg, certain salary allowances are paid solely to employees defined as "heads of families"—especially in the para-public sector...
Vol. 62 • June 1979 • No. 13
