Equal Pay Day Highlights Persistent Gender Pay Gap in Germany

Despite legal frameworks and years of advocacy, women in Germany continue to earn significantly less than men, with limited political action to address the issue.

Germany's gender pay gap remains significant, with women earning 16% less than men on average, and 6% less even when factors like position and career choices are accounted for.
Equal Pay Day continues to draw attention to wage disparities, but critics argue it has become a symbolic gesture with little resulting progress or policy change.
Germany's 2017 Pay Transparency Act has been deemed ineffective, with calls for stronger measures, including mandatory wage gap reporting for companies with over 100 employees by 2026 under new EU directives.
Women in Germany face systemic disadvantages in the workforce, including overrepresentation in part-time roles, lower average wages, and underrepresentation in leadership positions.
Advocates demand a 'Zeitenwende' (turning point) for gender equality, urging political leaders to prioritize equal pay as a fundamental right rather than a deferred promise.