United Nations International Equal Pay Day

19/09/2022

The United Nations International Equal Pay Day was celebrated yesterday, and occurs on 18 September annually in support of equal pay for work of equal value between women and men.

Women are paid less than men by an estimated 20 per cent globally. On average:

• women earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn for work of equal value;
• it will take 257 years to close the global gender pay gap; and
• women carry out at least 2½ times more unpaid household and care work than men.

The empowerment of all women and girls is part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and equal pay is an important human right and identified by the SDG as a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.