Why French women should stop working at 4:48 p.m. this Friday

Ladies, starting at 4:48 p.m. this Friday, you can stop working. For what ? But because you will no longer be paid. Don't worry, the men will take over until the end of the year. Does this seem radical to you? Uneven? However, this is the reality of the salary inequalities that persist between men and women in our country.

According to the feminist newsletter Les Glorieuses, it is this Friday at 4:48 p.m. that women will start working “for free”. This count, carried out each year, has found a resounding echo in the media and allows the population to become aware of the gap which still separates the two sexes in France.

Calculated from European statistics on the salary gap between women and men in France, this data relating to the year 2022 reveals that you ladies earn on average 13.9% less than men. Small positive point: during the last assessment established by Les Glorieuses, the difference was 15.4%.

For Rebecca Amsellem, “this is a marginal improvement”. The founder of the newsletter is nevertheless convinced: “it is possible to reduce salary inequalities drastically by drawing inspiration from champion countries in this area”.

The feminist activist draws inspiration in particular from the models of Sweden, Iceland and Spain where the law authorizes “equivalent parental leave for both parents”. In New Zealand, authorities have chosen to increase wages in female-dominated sectors such as health, education and care. In Spain, work is more flexible. In Iceland, companies must put in place an action plan to reduce inequalities if they persist.