Germany: Women Pay Less for Public Transport to Mark Berlin's 'Equal Pay Day'

Women were paid 21 percent less in Germany than men last year, leaving the gender pay gap in Europe’s biggest economy unchanged, the Federal Statistics Office said Thursday.

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Men earned on average 21.00 euros (about US$24) an hour in 2017, compared with 16.59 euros for women, the office said. In 2007, the gap was 23 percent.

The difference is partly explained by the places men and women tend to work, with other factors being fewer women in management positions, and more women holding part-time jobs than men.

A so-called “adjusted” gender pay gap for men and women in comparable jobs and with comparable qualifications was about 6 percent.

To mark Equal Pay Day, Berlin women will pay 21% less than usual in public transport Monday. 

The city’s public transport operator, BVG, said its “Frauenticket” (Womens' ticket) will be available on March 18 only.

The Frauenticket, a day travel pass for the two central zones of the city, will be available for 5.50 euros, down from the usual 7 euros. It will be valid until 3am the next day.

“Of course this price gap feels unfair. But that’s the whole point: just for a day we just wanted to make the big pay gap feel tangible in ticket form. This is what women are up against every day,” said Petra Nelken, a BVG spokesperson .