Wage disparity widens and women now earn 20.7% less than men

The pay gap between men and women has increased in Brazil. This is highlighted in the report by the Ministry of Labor and Employment, published this Wednesday (18). According to the report, on average, women receive 20.7% less than men in the private sector. In the previous record, in March, the number was 19.4%. Therefore, there was an increase of 1.3%.

The survey interviewed 50,692 companies with 100 or more employees, bringing the total number of workers to 18 million. The results of the survey revealed a huge salary gap between men and women: in the private sector, the average salary for men is R$4,495.39, while women receive, on average, R$3,565.48. In management or executive positions, the salary gap is even more notable: men receive, on average, 27% more than women working in the same positions.

Greater disparity for black women

When the average remuneration by race and gender is assessed, the disparity becomes even more glaring. According to the survey, non-black men earn an average of R$5,464.29, while black women earn an average of R$2,745.76. This amount represents half (50.2%) of the income of a non-black man. A non-black woman earns an average of R$4,249.71. A black woman's income is equivalent to only 64% of that of a non-black woman.

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_{Black women earn less on average (Photo: reproduction/DRS Produções/Getty Images Embed)}

The report also points out that companies do not make the effort they should to hire black women. Only 27.9% of companies have a policy to encourage the hiring of black women, and almost half of them (42.7%) have 10% or less of black or brown women among their employees.

There are natural barriers that prevent women from standing out in the job market, as revealed in the research, and these barriers are even higher when it comes to black women.

Government action plan

With 79 projects for equal pay, the government launched the National Plan for Equal Pay and Employment between Men and Women, to try to combat this brutal inequality.

The projects include training young women and including the issue in union negotiations. The goal is to create a fairer and more inclusive work environment.

Featured Photo: wage gap (Reproduction/Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil)