Brazil makes way towards gender equality with wage parity between men and women

The law establishing the pay parity for men and women who perform the same functions in Brazilsanctioned this Monday, is only “a first step” towards respect and equality, the Minister of Women, Cida Gonçalves, told EFE.

“Brings a new perspective to Brazil”, pointed out the minister in relation to the law sanctioned by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who began his mandate on January 1 with a strong commitment to gender equality in the face of machismo and domestic violence.

Some economic sectors have slipped veiled criticism of this new law, on the grounds that it could increase the costs of companies or cause unemployment among women, situations that the minister completely rules out, even using data from the United Nations.

“The UN says that equal pay contributes to increasing the gross domestic product (GDP) of countries and, if that happens, the profits of companies also increase” and society as a whole benefits, he explained.

The women represent the 51.1% of the Brazilian population and, according to official data, earn around a 22% less than men. In addition, they occupy only the 37% of managerial positions in companies.

gonçalves considered that the new legislation is a first step “very important” towards greater gender parity in the labor market, but stressed that it is only a step.

Promote the debate on equality and defeat misogyny

“Now it is necessary to discuss the issue of equality”, which “is not just legislation”, and to promote initiatives so that “women have the opportunity to advance professionally in their careers”which must imply a debate with the whole society, he assured.

gonçalves cited the need for “argue” some marked cultural traits of Brazilian society and also “the sexual division of labor in the home”, which he identified as a “limiter” for the further development of women in the labor market.

“Many times a woman is offered a promotion”but can’t accept it “hour load” who impose household chores that are reserved for them in society, such as “picking up the children at school or taking care of a sick person”he explained.

That discussion, according gonçalvesshould aim to promote “a change in behavior in companies” and society itself, in which it is necessary to deepen the fight against misogyny, which in recent years has been “established and authorized” in Brazil.

He thus alluded to the management of the far-right Jair Bolsonaro, who governed between 2019 and 2022 with an openly macho discourse that ended up having reflections throughout society.

According to the minister gonçalvesthat speech “hate on social networks, which was authorized for the last few years”as well as the policies of the previous government that facilitated access to weapons for civil society, have contributed to the increase in femicides in the country.

According to official data, the murders of women due to gender issues in 2022 increased by 5% in relation to the previous year and added a total of 1,400, which represents almost four per day.

The facilitation of purchase and “The authorization to have weapons in the houses also had consequences for women”said the minister, who pointed out that the majority of those who acquire these weapons are men.

“And they know what they want these weapons for”, because “no one buys weapons to pacify a country, to distribute love, peace and humanity”, but they do it “because they have the intention of killing”sentenced.

Source: EFE