Only one area out of six analyzed in the 2024 Gender Equality Index made progress compared to the previous year: political involvement. Three other areas registered regression, and two remained unchanged. Compared to last year’s Index, the fields of education, access to resources, perceptions and stereotypes have regressed.
The Gender Equality Index, presented traditionally on March 8 by the Development Partnership Center for the tenth consecutive year, is calculated based on 31 indicators. “In some areas we are making progress. Like for example, politics. In other areas we are not moving forward, despite having progress in terms of the legal framework, and in others we are unfortunately regressing, which means that we should think and discuss multilaterally - what we should do and what measures we should we undertake to eliminate these inequalities and increase the level of equality in these areas”, Alina Andronache, CPD analyst, told a press conference on Thursday.
According to the expert, a comprehensive set of laws aimed at supporting the balance between professional and family life was recently implemented in Moldova. And now it is essential to make a detailed assessment of their impact. This review, expected in 2025, is crucial to determine whether the legislation is achieving its goals and actually contributing to improving the quality of life for workers and their families.
“We recommend that the evaluation be focused on measuring the concrete effects of the legislative changes, examining how they have influenced the ability of employees to combine work and family responsibilities. It is important that this evaluation process includes views from a wide range of stakeholders, including employees, employers and trade union representatives, in order to gain a comprehensive perspective on the impact of the legislation”, CPD experts says.
It is also recommended to adopt an additional legislative package to strengthen salary equity, in particular the requirement for employers to disclose, in a clear and detailed manner, the salary structure and remuneration criteria associated with each job offer, including the salary range provided for the respective position. It is also necessary to establish an effective surveillance system to ensure compliance with pay equity norms, complemented by appropriate sanctions for non-compliance.
Alina Andronache said it is necessary to prohibit salary confidentiality clauses in employment contracts, thus encouraging a culture of transparency and openness. Also, it is recommended that the legislation stipulates the right of employees to receive compensation, covering not only unpaid amounts, but also bonuses, perks, compensation for lost opportunities and moral damages, plus relevant default interest.
CPD experts recommend adopting a 40% representation quota for members of the underrepresented sex on boards of directors and in leadership positions. Similarly, they believe that a set of measures need to be taken to reduce gender-based violence. Another recommendation concerns the additional tax deduction for salaried parents who have children in daycare, kindergarten or school. In the same way, it is necessary to grant the allowance for lone parents in the amount of 100% of their average salary for days off when the activity of nurseries, kindergartens and schools is suspended.
