Portugal has joined the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC), being the 11th member country. This organization brings together countries committed to equal pay through concrete measures and supports Member States in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
EPIC was established in late 2017 with the leadership of the International Labor Organization (ILO), the United Nations Department of Women, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). To be part of this organization will depend on the fulfillment of 11 criteria regarding the existence of legislation and public policy measures that promote equal pay.
Portugal, which has come a long way in this plan in recent years, fulfills all entry requirements for EPIC upon entry.
Miguel Cabrita, Secretary of State for Employment, mentions that “this accession occurs in the year of the entry into force of Law No. 60/2018, which aims to promote equal pay between women and men and is a manifestation of the Portuguese Government’s commitment to international level and an important gateway for sharing experiences from the point of view of applying concrete responses to tackle wage inequality. ”
Rosa Monteiro, Secretary of State for Citizenship and Equality, adds that “Portugal is a pioneer in the actions it has taken, since the new Equal Pay Act, to support companies in the assessment of their remuneration practices and the improvement of statistical information. joining EPIC is a clear recognition of this commitment and the certainty that we will not allow setbacks in these issues of gender equality “.
