Social Equality Minister: Higher gender gaps in public sector than private sector

According to the social equality minister, men in the private sector earn 32% more than women, while in the public sector they earn some 36% more.

By LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZI
Updated: MARCH 6, 2016 23:35
Gila Gamliel. (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Gila Gamliel.
(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The wage gap between men and women in the public sector is greater than that of the private sector, according to data presented by Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel on Sunday during the weekly cabinet meeting.
According to Gamliel, men in the private sector earn 32 percent more than women, while in the public sector they earn some 36% more – a figure that has increased since last year.
In addition, the findings indicated that 42.4% of women received government income supplements, compared to only 29.4% of men.
Gamliel also presented findings regarding female representation in the public sector.
The data showed that in 2015 there were only four female judges on the High Court of Justice, compared to 11 men. In addition, there were 43 women sitting on the boards of directors of government companies, compared to 57 men.
In the current Knesset, she noted, there are 32 female MKs, accounting for only 26.7% of all MKs, while there are only three female ministers (14.3%) in the administration.
With regards to local government, there are seven female heads of municipalities – in Netanya, Ganei Tikva, Or Yehuda, Bnei Shimon, Yoav, Yehud and Ramat Hasharon – accounting for only 2.7% of all municipality heads.
Furthermore, there are 341 women who were elected officials in local authorities, accounting for 14.7% of all elected officials – a 30% increase since 2008.
“The data shows high wage gaps between women and men in the public sector,” Gamliel said. “The Social Equality Ministry, in collaboration with the Civil Service Commission and the Supervisor of Wages at the Finance Ministry, is promoting a strategic plan to minimize to the point of eradicating wage gaps entirely.”
Gamliel added that for the first time, the ministry would carry out a “gender oriented examination” of the state budget.
“By 2018 there will be a 100 percent gender oriented budget for all government ministries. As such, this will bring about a revolution in the distribution of resources for women, which will in turn lead to equality and a minimization of gaps between women and men in the workplace,” she said.


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