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The Straight Story

(48,121 posts)
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 11:36 AM Apr 2013

First French firms fined over unequal pay

First French firms fined over unequal pay

France has reached a landmark moment in employment equality, with the minister for women’s rights announcing on Thursday that for the first time the government had fined two companies for paying female staff less than their male counterparts.

France’s minister for women’s rights, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, revealed on Thursday that the government had handed out fines to two French companies – one in the Paris region, and the other in the south-western region of Aquitaine – for violating their legal obligation to “equal pay for equal work” between women and men.

The firms are the first ever in France to be legally sanctioned for such a breach, despite the existence of legislation dating since 2010.

Women's rights activists have responded enthusiastically to the announcement.

Clemence Helster, from the group "Osez le Féminisme" (Dare feminism) told The Local: "This is great news. It sends a strong signal to all companies that they can't ignore equal pay, or treat it lightly. These sanctions make the issue a concrete reality."

http://www.thelocal.fr/page/view/france-prepares-first-fines-over-unequal-pay-for-women#.UXlMYEr4KSo

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