Today is International Women’s Day and it is stirring discussions on equal pay, gender gap and concerns related to women at work. Monster India released the latest Monster Salary Index (MSI) on gender.
Gender pay gap: The data from 2016 indicates that the present gender pay gap in India stands at 25% where men earned a median gross hourly salary of Rs 345.8, in comparison women earned only Rs 259.8. The gap has narrowed by two percentage points from 27.2% in 2015 and is closer to the 24.1% in 2014. — Source: WageIndicator Foundation
Women of India Inc survey: The survey aimed at understanding the working women of India and their workplace concerns broadly was categorised under the parameters of- workplace, growth and safety. The survey was conducted on Monster India’s database capturing responses from over 2000 working women.
The survey witnessed maximum share of participation from Delhi-NCR at 15%, followed by Mumbai and Bangalore at 12%. The participation from non-metros was at 35%. Hence, it would be logical to say that the sentiment portrayed in the report is primarily from Delhi NCR, Mumbai and Bangalore.
Happy-sad or sad-sadIJ: Focussing on the growth parameters at work, 53.9% women are between happy to partially happy, as they feel that there could be more opportunities. Despite conversations on equal pay and initiatives being taken to create a more inclusive environment, 62.4% women feel that their male counterparts get more promotions opportunities and gender continues to play a role in deciding promotions along with other parameters.
Oh so not safe!: A notable 78.1% consider safety as key parameter while choosing a job. The women of India Inc expressed their reservations towards opting for night shift jobs with over 66.4% who consider it as unsafe and would choose to avoid night shifts. However, about 62.7% feel that organisations should provide short term self-defence classes.
Information and Communication Technology Services: The average gender pay gap of 38.2% is one of the widest observed in this report. Women earn Rs 142.5 less per hour than men. This means that men gain another 38.2% more of their salary.
lSalaries for both, men and women, decreased in 2015 and then rose above the 2014 pay levels in 2016.
lAbsolute decreases and increases have been stronger for female employees (-Rs 3.8 compared toRs 23.0 and +Rs 38.4 compared to Rs 94.9)
lAfter a sudden rise from 36.9%, a difference of INR 134.8 per hour, to 43.7% (Rs 161.6) in 2015, the gender pay gap shrank again in 2016 to ‘only’ 25.8%, meaning a difference of Rs 105.1 per hourly median wage
Financial Services, Banking and Insurance: The gender pay gap in the Financial services, banking and insurance sector amounts to 21.5%.
lThis is slightly under the general gender pay gap in India (25%). On average, men earn an hourly median wage of Rs 346.4 and women Rs 272
lThe comparison of the three years reveals that the wages for both genders experienced only little changes from 2014 to 2015
lIn 2016, however, wages rose by Rs 144.3 (+45.4%) for male employees and by Rs 79.5 (+29.8%) for female employees. Therefore, while the gender pay gap shrank slightly from 2014 to 2015, it grew again in 2016 to 25.0%
Education and Research: In the education and research sector the gender pay gap amounts to 14.7% on average. It is nearly 10 percentage points below the overall level of 25%.
lHourly median wages for men have risen by 7.0% from IRs 190.5 to Rs 203.8 between 2014 and 2016
lWomen also gained more in 2016 than 2014 as much as Rs 50.5 (32.8%). The gender pay gap increased again from 19.2% and 13.1% in 2014 and 2015 respectively to -3.4% in 2016
Manufacturing: Male employees in the Manufacturing sector earn Rs 256.6 on average, female employees Rs 179.8. This amounts to a gender pay gap of 29.9%
lCompared to the average value observed in the Wage Index Report 2015 (34.9%) an improvement of 5 percentage points can be observed. However, the gap remains one of the highest in India
lWages for male employees stayed stable in 2015 but decreased by Rs 43.3 in 2016, forming the gender pay gap 13.3%.