MORE NEWS
During the debates the Parliamentary Secretary informed about the changes in the EU during the last twenty years that allows both women and men to be economically independent. The progress at EU level is the result of policy initiatives and legislative acts both at EU and national level as well as a dialogue with the social partners and general public. At the same time Uzulnieks emphasized the role of encouraging women's participation in labour market to contribute to the economic growth and competitiveness of the EU.
Even though women's employment rate in the EU has grown from 53% in 1995 to 63% in 2013 it is still far from the 75% employment target for both women and men by 2020. To reach that it is necessary, in addition to encouraging women's participation in the labour market, to implement measures which would reduce pay gap between women and men, as well as encourage women's participation in decision making. As of November 2014, the national parliaments in the EU Members States were comprised of 28% women and 72% men. Among the leaders of political parties in the EU in April 2014, men accounted for 87% of the leaders of major political parties whereas women for only 13%.
Reinis Uzulnieks stressed the role of each EU Member State in achieving gender parity, including through education, labour and social policies, and gender responsive budgeting in the respective Member State.
On 9-12 March the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Welfare Uzulnieks will participate in the High-level debates organised within the framework of the 59th annual session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York.
The main priority of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the field of welfare is inclusive and sustainable participation in the labour market. Other priorities of the field are: strengthening the social dialogue, issues of disability, labour protection and gender equality.
