Wednesday marks Equal Pay Day in Manitoba, and advocates are sounding the alarm on how much extra women need to work to make the same as men.
According to the Manitoba Equal Pay Day Coalition, on average, Manitoba women have to work 444 days to earn as much as men do in 365 days.
Spokesperson Molly McCracken said this means women continue to fall behind men in the workplace and serves as a factor in the province’s child poverty rates.
“Manitoba used to be a leader in pay equity back in the 80s, but we’ve fallen way behind,” she said.
The coalition noted a government strategy to eliminate the gender pay gap should include pay equity and transparency legislation; pay fairness for jobs dominated by women; strategies to expand women’s participation in non-traditional jobs; and completing Manitoba’s commitment to 23,000 affordable new childcare spaces. It added the strategy should also involve raising the minimum wage, ending workplace harassment; and improving health and public services.
“Women are done waiting for economic equality,” McCracken said.
“Pay discrimination is a violation of women’s human rights, and we need the Manitoba and federal governments to implement a comprehensive strategy to eliminate the gender pay gap.”
In a statement, Labour Minister Malaya Marcelino says the Manitoba government is working to make progress on pay equity for women.
“Since forming government, we’ve acted through legislation to protect Manitoba workers and improve wages,” she said. “We’re also expanding access to affordable childcare and education and training opportunities to reduce economic barriers for women. Our government is committed to improving pay equity for women in Manitoba and we will continue this work.”
