Women in Search of 'Equal Pay' with Men

Equal Pay Day is a symbolic day to raise awareness about the wage gap between women and men and the gender disparity that exists in most countries around the world. This year, it fell on April 10, corresponding to Farvardin 21. Equal Pay Day illustrates how long women must work throughout the year to earn the same salary that men received in the previous year. Numerous protests have been held in various countries against wage inequality between women and men. In many countries, women still have to work longer hours than men to demand equal pay from their employers. Some of the most famous female presenters at the BBC demanded last summer that the media outlet eliminate wage discrimination between women and men. Previously, the BBC had published a list of salaries for its famous presenters at the request of the British government, revealing a significant disparity in pay between male and female presenters. At the same time, the World Economic Forum announced that full wage equality for women and men for equal work will not be achieved for at least another 118 years. So far, Scandinavian countries have taken more steps than any other country to reduce the gender gap. However, even in these countries, complete gender equality has not yet been achieved. In Iran, the gender gap is very pronounced. Leila Fallahati, the Director General of International Affairs at the Vice Presidency for Women and Family Affairs, stated in January 2018 that Iran ranks 140th out of 144 countries in terms of gender gap. The gender gap index is used by the World Economic Forum to compare the level of equality between women and men in countries around the world, based on four components: education, health, economic participation, and political participation. According to Iranian labor law, employers must pay workers, both women and men, at least the minimum wage announced annually by the Supreme Labor Council. Under labor law, women and men working in the same workshop and to the same extent should receive equal pay. However, in Iran, women's wages are lower than men's; female workers in equal jobs do not receive the same wages as male workers and often do not receive insurance or salary increases. This week's program has addressed why women in Iran do not receive equal pay with men, featuring Mehrangiz Kar, a lawyer and women's rights activist residing in the U.S., and Ahmad Alavi, a university professor and economist in Sweden. The discussion begins with the question of how real and accurate the wage discrimination between women and men is. Kar emphasizes that the issue is rooted in the legal framework, which lacks comprehensive statistics across all employment sectors. She notes that the Iranian Constitution mandates that everything must comply with Islamic principles, which inherently introduces gender discrimination. Even in non-Islamic countries, such as Sweden, feminist activists express that wage inequality persists despite legal equality. In Iran, the legal framework further complicates the issue, as laws do not adequately address wage equality. Alavi adds that the Iranian labor law does not effectively address wage disparities and lacks mechanisms for enforcement. The discussion highlights the broader implications of gender wage gaps, not only in Iran but also in other countries, emphasizing that despite legal frameworks, practical realities often reflect persistent inequalities.