Is equal pay between men and women respected in Monaco?
According to the Monegasque Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (IMSEE), the civil service seems more egalitarian than the private sector.
The study is unprecedented. For the very first time, IMSEE looked at the wage gap between men and women in the Principality, under the impetus of the creation of the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights. In order not to be subject to a potential influence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the figures for the year 2019 have been observed. The public and private sectors have therefore been carefully examined over this year.
The civil service: “good pupil” of the Principality
Of the two, the public sector seems to be the more egalitarian. According to the data given by Alexandre Bubbio, director of the IMSEE, women would have a remuneration index of 0.7% on average higher than that of men. But if we look in detail, this conclusion must be nuanced.
The IMSEE is in fact based on three categories of positions: A (management functions, such as executives), B (application functions) and C (executive functions, such as gardeners, for example) . If we take each category individually, the pay index remains higher on average for men (by 14.7%, 8% and 9% respectively). However, since women are mostly hired in categories A and B (better paid than category C), their pay index is therefore 0.7% higher on average than that of men.
In general, the trend remains rather positive, as shown in the graph below, but Jean Castellini, Government Counselor-Minister of Finance and Economy, believes that ” we cannot satisfy ourselves because we can always do better. »
It should also be noted that, in terms of hiring, women remain in the minority and considered, in 2019, 43% of the Public Service. Nevertheless, we note that 42% of them hold a position in category A, against barely 25% among men.
Private sector: a significantly higher hourly wage for men
If for Christophe Robino, Government Counselor-Minister of Social Affairs and Health, the civil service acts as a “good student”, in the private sector, on the other hand, the gap is much greater. We note a higher median salary of 5.9% in favor of men. A difference that can be seen in particular in the hourly wage, which is on average 21% higher for men. A difference with the public sector which is explained in particular by the absence of salary scales and a difficulty of control over the private sector.
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The result, however, remains more recommended than in France, which in 2019 posted a median salary of more than 12% in favor of men. According to the criteria of the OECD – and although it is not one of them – the Principality erases part of the top ten most egalitarian countries.
As for the gross monthly salary, it would be on average 28.5% lower for women (€3,900 for men, compared to €2,800 for women). But the IMSEE moderates this figure, which can be explained by other criteria, such as the over-representation of women in less remunerative professions (such as domestic workers), or working time (132 hours/month for women against 139 hours for men).
For Céline Cottalorda, Interministerial Delegate for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights, the mental burden (which is more often the responsibility of women) is a first explanatory element of this last point. This is why, among the approved avenues for improvement, a change in mentality seems to be essential.
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What are the avenues for improvement?
To improve these results for the next study, scheduled for 2024, several solutions will have to be found. To begin with, therefore, with a change of mentality on the side of employers: “ it is not necessary to focus on whether the employee is a man or a woman, but on his competence. Is the person the best for a position? If so, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a man or a woman: you have to hire them and pay them as such “, explains Christophe Robino to Monaco Info.
Another important point: changing mentalities… of future employees! Because it would seem that certain professions are less attractive for women, because too often reserved as reserved for men. ” We are going to focus on better understanding and better explaining certain demonstrated, to ensure that “better” does not mean “discrimination” and work upstream, in the education of young girls, to make them understand that all careers they are offered today and that they should not set limits adds Jean Castellini.
” Raising business awareness is part of the follow-up that will be given. We are going to encourage entrepreneurs to complete a self-assessment questionnaire to find out how they position themselves in relation to this issue of equality within the company. “, concludes Céline Cottalorda.