Gender pay gap

The gender pay gap represents the difference between the average gross hourly wages of women and men, expressed as a percentage of the average pay for men. It is expressed as follows: Gender pay gap = (hourly wage for men - hourly wage for women) / hourly wage for men The gender pay gap is calculated based on the survey on earnings. The statistical population consists of all employees in enterprises: with at least 10 employees; whose main economic activity is classified under the NACE Rev.2 sections B-S (-O). There are no restrictions according to age or working hours. The gender pay gap therefore includes both full-time and part-time employees. The concept of “wage” applied includes paid overtime as well as premiums that are paid at each payment period. Examples include premiums for night or weekend shifts. Premiums that are only paid exceptionally, such as thirteenth-month pay or double holiday pay, are excluded. All the EU Member States apply the same harmonised concepts and methods for the calculation of the gender pay gap. This makes it possible to compare the Belgian situation with the pay gap in the other EU Member States.