On Wednesday MPs met to debate the problem of wage inequality in the Grand Duchy between men and women.  Viviane Loschetter of Die Gréng party stated “The 1974 Act requires equal pay for equal work.  The current practice that does not comply with these rules and needs to be changed”.

This is a proposal that Ministers of Equal Opportunities, Franchise Hetto-Gaasch, and Labour Minister, Nicolas Schmit, want to discuss. However the question is, who sets the punishments for companies not complying with equal pay?

"How do we control the inequalities, if there is no transparency on wages?" queried Socialist MEP Lydie Err, citing benefits such as housing allowances, cars, and bonuses.

The current state system is faced with the same issues. "Even if the will is there, often human resources lack the necessary data," says Francoise Hetto-Gaasch. For Nicolas Schmit, a first step could well be the creation of a specific office focused solely on wage equality within Luxembourg.

Currently, it is estimated that women earn on average 14% less than men in the Grand Duchy.  The debate continues.