Hours worked not considered

THE EDITOR: In its column of September 12 (“Equal pay day in TT still an issue”), the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) cites figures claiming that the gender pay gap between men and women ranges from 8.9 per cent for technicians and associate professionals and up to 34.7 per cent for services and shop sales workers.

What these figures, which the EOC took from the International Labour Organization (ILO) instead of conducting its own analysis, fail to take into account is the hours worked.

Once this is factored in using figures from the Central Statistical Office’s Labour Force Report, the supposed wage gap falls to two per cent for service workers, while female associate professionals actually earn more than men.

ELTON SINGH

Couva