The gender gap still wide for working women in the EU, according to the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

It says research shows that over the past 15 years, the percentage of women superiors has risen from 20% in 1995 to 25% in 2005. However, there are still substantial differences between countries. The highest proportions of women in supervisory and managerial positions are in the Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands as well as in the eastern European countries. In contrast, southern European countries and some continental countries, have the lowest proportions.

Women continue to be paid less than men, despite collective agreements and minimum wage legislation that is in principle gender-neutral. In the European Union of 27 countries, the lowest hourly-wage pay gap is found in Malta. The widest gap is in Germany.

Eurofound’s director Jorma Karppinen says: “While our research shows that men work longer hours than women in paid employment in all countries, women in fact work more hours than men when paid and unpaid working hours are combined.

“Employment levels in Europe won’t increase unless we solve the issues of care for children and the elderly, address gender inequalities in domestic tasks and improve working time options that promote better work-life balance for both women and men.”