Women, the PES and the EPP

International Women's Day tomorrow will bring with it the customary pleas from women's NGOs for the government to address the democratic deficit with regard to gender-related issues and the concomitant problems arising from them. Whether these appeals will be heeded is another matter, so maybe it will be useful to look at the European Parliament (EP) level to see how the two parties which concern us most, address this subject, since the two major groupings which our MEPs will be joining within the EP, have a fairly different track record where women's rights and needs are concerned.

Our elected Nationalist Party representatives will join the European People's Party (EPP) and those for the Labour Party (PL), the Party of European Socialists (PES). I have noticed how the latter have been voicing their concern about the situation women are finding themselves in within the context of the international financial crisis. Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, president of the PES, contends that: "Women risk being the biggest victims of this crisis. First hit by redundancy because they are the most vulnerable in precarious employment. Already cases are being reported of women shortening their maternity leave because they are afraid of losing their jobs, in spite of the legal protection against this. Women on low pensions relying on their savings are also being hit... The recent Czech presidency's attempt to call into question the EU's child care targets is another example of the right-wing's fundamentally paternalistic approach to women".

The fact that the PES is highlighting these realities is promising and proves its awareness on some women's precarious position in the context of the current global difficulties: The international crisis need not penalise women unnecessarily if we work hard at it. We all are, or will be affected, but where it is within our control we must not allow one section of society to be worse hit than any other.

Surely every country must have the adequate structures to ensure gender equality in normal times, but even more so, in the extraordinary situation such as that which the world is facing now. But somehow, all I receive from our National Commission for the Promotion of Equality are colourful booklets on good practices. I have read or heard of no concern about when the current financial push comes to a desperate shove in relation to the further feminisation of poverty. What's more, we are still running on the spot on old problems such as affordable childcare and breast screening, both promised in successive budgets. Women at decision making levels are still an exception. Teleworking and flexible working hours are still unattainable for many... and on goes the list.

This comes as no surprise since a Nationalist government showed us from the outset that women's rights are not a priority. Otherwise, the same government wouldn't have dismantled the Parliamentary Secretariat for Women's Rights in the Prime Minister's office, that is, in the heart of the government. The same government wouldn't have relegated this sector to a mere department in a mega ministry for social policy and, subsequently, disband it altogether. This left us with the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality, which was also eventually diluted when its brief came to include race, disability, age, sexual orientation and religion besides gender.

It also comes as no surprise then, that the PN feels comfortable with the EPP on these matters since the latter's record is quite dismal when compared to that of the PES.

There are various instances which confirm this, for example the PES has been pressuring the European Commission to establish a legal base for gender violence, which the EPP keeps opposing. The PES strongly favours penalties to be applied to employers who break the equal pay legislation while the EPP is split on the issue.

In the report on the future of the Lisbon Strategy the PES presented an amendment to improve the parental leave directive. Members of the EPP were against this move but it was nonetheless adopted. The EPP was also against the proposal regarding the introduction of a "guaranteed minimum income" for the weakest women, especially single parents, but, again, the amendment was adopted in spite of the resistance from the EPP group.

It is important to follow the various positions taken by the two different European parties concerning women's rights. It should help voters to decide which party is best placed to promote and support initiatives that strengthen gender equality.

Have a good Women's Day tomorrow

The author is a sociologist and a Labour member of Parliament.