Member States and social partners discuss gender dimensions of job quality

The Policy Analysis Group of the EU Employment Committee (EMCO) organised on 24 and 25 March a tripartite meeting with social partners to discuss the gender dimensions of job quality. It gathered Member States, the Commission and social partners at cross-industry EU level - ETUC, BusinessEurope, SGI Europe, and SMEunited - and national level. 

Despite relevant legislation at the EU level – including on Pay Transparency and Work-life balance, the European Pillar of Social Rights and the most recent Quality Jobs Roadmap, data show that substantial differences between men and women in job quality remain an important concern.

The meeting addressed three relevant interconnected themes: 

• Collective Bargaining: Investigating how collective bargaining coverage, women’s presentation in social partner organisations and the inclusion of gender equality clauses in sectoral agreements can impact job quality for women and labour market segregation.
• Career Progression: Assessing the impact of pay transparency measures, parental leave, and childcare policies on closing the gender pay gap, advancing careers, and strengthening social protection.
• Well-being: Exploring strategies to enhance mental health and work-life balance, specifically addressing the high psychosocial risks prevalent in female-dominated care and service sectors.

In support of the objectives set out in the Gender equality strategy 2026–2030 of the European Commission and the 2025 Roadmap for Women's Rights, the discussions are expected to contribute to advancing gender equality in the EU, notably by reinforcing the dialogue with social partners and informing future peer reviews or mutual learning exercises on gender-related employment policies across the Member States.