A recent study by the International Labour Office (ILO) has found that the current financial crisis has led to a significant increase in workplace inequality across Europe.
The study, 'Work Inequalities in the Crisis: Evidence from Europe' analyses how workplace issues, such as working conditions, wages and incomes, employment and gender equality have been deteriorating across the continent since the start of the crisis.
“The central message of this volume can be summarized in simple terms: not only did work inequalities contribute to generating the economic crisis, but these inequalities have even become worse as a result of it”, says Daniel Vaughan-Whitehead, the ILO’s Special adviser, and editor of the book.“Our general economic system will thus continue to be at risk until we properly address this critical issue.”
Key findings of the study include:
- Wage differentials between the top and the bottom earners increased in countries like Bulgaria, Hungary and the United Kingdom.
- Young people are experiencing unemployment rates nearly double those among older workers in the majority of European countries.
- Despite male workers being initially more affected by the crisis than women, discriminatory practices against female workers have worsened over the past years.
- Women employed in male-dominated sectors were the first to be dismissed or experienced higher wage cuts than men.