The income gap between men and women in the European Union is 12% to the disadvantage of women. The European Commission, based on the current Gender Pay Gap (GPG) indicator, annually sets the European Equal Pay Day. And this year, November 17th is the day from which women stop being paid the same as men on average and work symbolically for free in order to equalize this unfair difference.
In the Czech Republic, this inequality is expressed as 17.9% to the disadvantage of women. The Business & Professional Women CR organization has been drawing attention to the topic of fair pay and equal opportunities since 2010 and has also included this issue in the program of the Equal Pay Day conference, which will take place on March 26 and 27, 2026.
The Czech Republic ranked 102nd out of 148 countries evaluated in the Global Gender Gap report published in June this year. For example, countries such as Uganda, Paraguay, Mongolia and Romania are ahead of us. Although we have improved by two places, inequality in remuneration or the low representation of women in decision-making positions in politics, state authorities or in company management persist. The campaign for equal remuneration and opportunities is therefore still needed in the czech context, the percentage difference between the average earnings of women and men is 17.9% according to the Gender Pay Gap (GPG) indicator. This fact is highlighted by the spring national Equal Pay Day, which is on March 6. This is a symbolic date that reminds us every year that women have to work longer on average to earn as much in a year as men in the previous year. This year, specifically, it was 65 extra days.
At the European Union level, the situation is somewhat more positive, where the difference is expressed as 12%. Based on the current figure, which is based on the GPG indicator, the European Commission has set November 17 as the day that illustrates how many days until the end of the year women have to work for free in order to catch up with men. The figure is more encouraging compared to the Czech Republic thanks to the proactive and constructive approach to fair remuneration, especially in the Nordic countries of the EU, from which we could take an example. At the international level, the UN proclaims Equal Pay Day and has its own fixed date, on September 18 every year.
“Current figures show that the path to fairer and more transparent remuneration of women and men is far from over. Both at the European and Czech levels, where the situation is even noticeably worse. We have already established the topic in public discussion under the banner of the Business & Professional Women CR organization and are striving for systemic change. On a practical level, through mentoring, networking and long-term education, we strengthen women’s financial independence and awareness in society about the need for equal opportunities for all,” says Eva Primus Kovandová, president of the non-profit organization BPWCR, whose continuous media campaign has started the talk about equal remuneration in the Czech Republic.
The highlight of the Czech campaign for Equal Pay Day is the international conference Equal Pay Day, which will take place on March 26 and 27, 2026 at the Clarion Congress Hotel Prague. The slogan that will run through the upcoming 17th year will be: AI is changing the future. We are changing the system. Artificial intelligence can make life easier in many ways, but it can also introduce further inequalities into society and the labor market. The conference will be divided into two parts this year as well: the conference on Thursday on March 26 will offer experiences and examples from practice. Representatives of top management of the companies and organizations will share the best practice on stage and present functional tools with which they practically reduce pay gaps.
“For us at Danone, equal pay is not just a topic we talk about, but a commitment we live in practice. Thanks to regular audits, transparent rules and open communication in teams, we are taking steps to help reduce the pay gap. European Equal Pay Day is a reminder to us that fairness and respect are values we build on across countries, which is why we will become partners of the conference for the fourth time,” summarizes Monika Ihnatková, Public Affairs Manager at Danone.
On Friday, March 27, the so-called Empower Day will take place, including the popularr speed mentoring, which has become the largest networking opportunity in the Czech Republic in 16 years. About a thousand visitors will be able to choose and strengthen their competencies in areas such as investing, technology, AI, entrepreneurship, mental health and others. The program will also be more open to the younger generation, both those who have recently entered the labor market and those who are still waiting for this step.
More information about tickets at a great early bird price HERE.
