Gender discrimination in the Czech labour market

Vašková, Renáta

Overview

Article

Gender discrimination in the Czech labour market

Published: 17 November 2004

Renáta Vašková

Gender equality

Preparations for EU accession in the Czech Republic brought a number of legislative changes with regard to EU directives. One of these changes is a ban on discrimination in the labour market. The most recent legislation governing the ban on direct and indirect discrimination came into effect on 1 March 2004. It also increases the legal protection of employees when the ban is breached.

Research carried out by the Academy of Sciences in the Czech Republic shows that, in spite of extensive legislation calling for equal treatment, a high percentage of women still experience discrimination in the labour market.

Preparations for EU accession in the Czech Republic brought a number of legislative changes with regard to EU directives. One of these changes is a ban on discrimination in the labour market. The most recent legislation governing the ban on direct and indirect discrimination came into effect on 1 March 2004. It also increases the legal protection of employees when the ban is breached.

However, ignorance of the law, and its difficult and lengthy enforcement, often mean that, in reality, discrimination based on gender is not uncommon.

In 2003, the Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (SOÚ AV) carried out a representative quantitative survey aimed at assessing the perception of gender inequalities at work, as well as of work-life balance. The research found that 40% of women have personally experienced discrimination at work, and more than half gave gender as the reason for the discrimination.

It is not only women who are aware of the discrimination they suffer in the labour market, but the population as a whole. Only one in 10 women and one in three men think that there is no difference between the genders in the labour market. According to the majority of respondents, women with pre-school age children represent the most disadvantaged social group.

**Most disadvantaged group in the Czech labour market, as perceived by survey respondents (%)**
Five groups that are regarded as the most disadvantaged in the labour market, by gender
Five most disadvantaged groups	Male respondents	Female respondents	Total
1. Women with pre-school age children	67	73	70
2. People with low educational attainment	66	63	64
3. Older women	61	67	64
4. Women after maternity leave	54	64	59
5. People with physical disabilities	57	53	55

Source: Position of women in the labour market, Gender inequalities and attitude of the population (in Czech; PDF, 854kB), SOÚ AV, 2003

Looking at a breakdown of gender inequalities, men and women can be compared according to access to work, treatment at work including wages, and advancment in one’s profession. The Czech population sees gender inequalities most often in career advancement prospects. Only 37% of respondents think that men and women have the same chance of getting a senior management position.

**Opportunities for men and women in the labour market, according to survey respondents (%)**
Five groups that are regarded as the most disadvantaged in the labour market, by gender
	Women have better opportunities than men	Women and men have approximately the same opportunities	Men have better opportunities than women

... of getting a job
Men	5	45	50
Women	17	53	30
... of getting a senior management position
Men	3	48	49
Women	6	49	45

Source: Position of women in the labour market, Gender inequalities and attitude of the population, SOÚ AV, 2003

Economic activity indicators

According to data from the Labour Force Sample Survey in 2003 carried out by the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ), there is still a high employment rate among women in the Czech Republic. The rate for women was very high during the communist regime. According to the population census in 1980, the female employment rate was 61.4%. In 2003, the rate of employment among women over 15 years of age was at 50.8%.

Part-time work among women is not widespread in the Czech Republic, at only 9%. This percentage is very low compared with other EU countries. In 2002, 33.5% of women worked part time in the EU15, compared with 29.8% in the countries now forming the EU25. The low figure for part-time work is due to the fact that two full-time incomes are necessary for families to maintain a good standard of living, and also due to the lack of part-time work.

**Basic economic activity indicators, 2003**
		Women	Men
Employment rate of people aged 15	%	50.8	68.7
Number of employed people	000s	2,271	2,861
Unemployment rate	%	9.9	6.1
Part-time work	%	9.5	2.9

Source: Employment and unemployment in the Czech Republic as measured by the Labour Force Sample Survey, annual average 2003

Discrimination against women in the labour market is also evident in wage differences. Women in the Czech Republic earn less than men regardless of whether they have the same educational attainment. The average wage level of women in 2003 accounted for only 74.6% of that of men, (Structure of employees’ wages , ČSÚ 2003). The highest discrepancies were discovered among women who had a university education (65.3%).

Both Czech women and men rate the importance of work in their life very highly. Likewise, reasons for having a job are similar, and include money, independence, self-fulfilment and enjoyment of work. Despite this, women are, according to the above data, often disadvantaged at work, both with regard to wages and career advancement.

It is mainly women who bear the burden of childcare and household tasks. This is the most serious barrier preventing them from gaining equal status in the labour market. Other factors are the structure of the labour market and employer policies, which are more geared towards men.

Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.

Eurofound (2004), Gender discrimination in the Czech labour market, article.