This is a symbolic consequence for former employees.
The end of the year is synonymous with good news for millions of retirees. Between those who receive the transfer of 600 euros as a catch-up for an increase that was not applied, then the increase in their basic pension, and all those affiliated to Agirc-Arrco who will benefit from an increase in their supplementary pension, the coming weeks will strengthen the budget of the elderly.
However, a snag is about to stop this salvo of announcements. A direct consequence of the professional career and its level of remuneration. What already penalizes women on a daily basis is now taking a particularly symbolic turn.
This is a truth that comes back tirelessly every year. It evolves, marginally, over the years, but remains ever present in everyday life. Between men and women, pay gaps persist and, if the trend towards egalitarianism (equal positions) is gaining ground, it is still not a given.
According to the latest INSEE study on the issue, for similar working hours and positions in the private sector, female employees earn 4% less than their male counterparts. But overall, the gap in annual income is around 23.5%. A difference linked in particular to part-time work, which is more common among women, which is inevitably reflected in retirement pensions.
Since the latter is calculated on the salaries received during one’s career, the gaps persist and are even more significant because today’s retirees worked at a time when inequality in remuneration was more significant. Data from the Ministry of Solidarity attest to this.
According to the latest consolidated data, dating from 2021, on average, a female retiree receives 1,425 euros gross each month (direct and derived pension), compared to 1,976 euros gross for a male retiree, or 28% less. A numerical gap that is difficult to perceive. Concretely, this amounts to saying that if women had pensions as high, on average, as men, they would no longer receive a euro from retirement insurance from this Thursday, September 19 and until the end of the year.