16,2%: this is the gender pay gap, or the average hourly difference between men and women in the EU, according to the latest data published by the European Commission.
This news came on the eve of the European Equal Pay Day, which is celebrated today, February 28th.
The EU-wide event marks the number of extra days women need to work to equal what men earn: currently 59 days, which this year fall precisely on 28 February.
Portugal is, however, the 7th country where the gender wage gap is smaller, at 12,8%. The country where the gap is smallest is Slovenia (0,9%), and the one where it is largest is Estonia (27,7%).
To help close this gap, the European Commission is highlighting a number of good practices from companies across Europe that have tackled the problem.
It is the third time that this European Equal Pay Day has taken place across Europe, following its launch by the Commission on 5 March 2011.
The latest numbers show a 16,2% average salary difference between genders in 2010 across the European Union. They confirm a slight downward trend, as the initial numbers were 17%.
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