Premiums and reliefs for companies that promote gender equality: first ok to the bill in the House

Ok, unanimously in the Chamber to measures to favor the reduction of the "gender pay gap", a bill on wage and gender equality that encompasses the initiatives of various political groups.

The provision, which will be examined at second reading in the Senate, modifies article 46 of the 2006 code of equal opportunities, requiring the drafting of a report on personnel to companies with 50 employees (which will be transmitted electronically to the Ministry of Labor ), while the text of 15 years ago set the bar to productive realities with 100 employees.

There will also be a prize for private companies with a workforce in the name of equality between the sexes, which will be able to enjoy tax relief of up to 50,000 euros, but also more easily receive state aid to support their investments.

The new rules integrate the notion of direct and indirect discrimination, including in this case also acts of an "organizational or hourly nature" that disadvantage women. All those behaviors that "because of sex, age, personal or family care needs, pregnancy and maternity or paternity, even adoptive", place or can place the worker in a "position of disadvantage with respect to generality of the other "employees, generate" limitation of opportunities for participation in life or company choices "and create obstacles regarding advancement and progression in the career.

The speaker and promoter of the initiative, the deputy of the Democratic Party Chiara Gribaudo, rejoices: "Despite the Constitution and good intentions, in this country, a woman (when she works) can earn more than 20% less than a man for the same job and salary. Then the pandemic broke out and once again women, and young people, paid the highest price in terms of unemployment and lack of adequate policies. Three governments have changed in this legislature, ministers have changed, but never the desire to go through with the approval of this law ”. Now, he continues, “it will take technical time, there are no magic that will allow the day after the vote to break down structural economic and cultural inequalities. But we will go on, because the future is feminist, the future is generated by women ".

For the Minister of Equal Opportunities and the Family, Elena Bonetti, this is "a proposal that integrates with the certification for gender equality provided for by the Pnrr", while for the holder of the Labor Department Andrea Orlando the passage to the Senate is "a 'excellent news' and 'a step forward on the road' of equality between women and men.

(Unioneonline / D)