Equal Pay Day - 4 September 2010

Equal Pay Day illustrates the number of extra days women have to work after the end of the financial year to earn as much as men.

The latest (May 2010) Australian Bureau of Statistics Average Weekly Earnings data shows that the national gender pay gap for full time workers, before overtime and bonuses were taken into account, is 17.6%. Therefore, in order to match the average earnings received by men in the previous financial year a woman would be required to work until 4 September 2010. To draw attention to this statistic the 2010 Australian Equal Pay Day will be held on 4 September.

Equal Pay Day aims to focus attention on the pay equity debate within the community, as well as educate organisations about the benefits of pay equity, conducting pay audits, and maintaining fair and equitable workplaces. 

The gender pay gap is a fairness issue as well as a matter of critical economic significance. New research by the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling – NATSEM – finds that pay inequity costs $93 billion per year to the Australian economy, or 8.5% of GDP. As a society we can all benefit from pay equity.

For more information on Equal Pay Day 2010 please visit the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA), Equal Pay Day website.

EOWA have produced two new e-cards to promote the day.

• Coffee - 18% Discount For Women Only
• Car - 18% Discount For Women Only