The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Office on Women has reiterated its call for equal pay and benefits for women, in line with global efforts to close the gender wage gap.
Marichi De Mesa, Executive Secretary of the CBCP Office on Women, emphasized the importance of ensuring equal compensation for women in the workforce, according to a report by Veritas 846.
De Mesa cited the Church’s Compendium on the Social Doctrine (numbers 301 and 302), which advocates for fair wages based on the value of work performed.
“On the occasion of the upcoming International Equal Pay Day, the Office on Women (CBCP) hereby manifests its support for the efforts of all women all over the world towards getting equal pay for work of equal value,” De Mesa said.
“In many places all over the world, it is a sad reality that there still exists a gender pay gap where women in the workplace receive less pay than men for the same value of work,” she added.
De Mesa warned that the disparity in wages poses a threat to women, describing it as a clear form of discrimination that undermines their roles not just as workers but also as homemakers.
“In the modern era, where many families are supported by both mothers and fathers, the income that mothers contribute to their households is crucial in providing for their families,” she said.
She also pointed out the unique roles that women play within the family, arguing that these should not be jeopardized by the issue of unequal pay.
“There are roles in a family specific to a woman, as a wife and a mother. These are tasks and duties only a woman can or most effectively fulfill in the family,” De Mesa said.
De Mesa emphasized that women should be supported in fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers without facing the risk of losing their right to equal pay for equal work.
She stressed that denying women this right not only undermines their value and dignity in the workplace but also hampers their ability to effectively manage their responsibilities at home.
A report by the International Labor Organization (ILO) found that, on average, women globally earn significantly less than men for comparable work. For every dollar men earn, equivalent to 56 pesos, women earn only 32 pesos.
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