Only 14% of MPs in Cyprus are women, compared to 33% in the EU – Gender pay gap narrows but remains slightly above the EU average.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Labour, in collaboration with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus, organised a conference focused on gender equality and employment trends. The findings highlighted that the lowest level of equality between men and women is found in the area of power, which refers to the participation of both genders in political, economic, and social decision-making. In short, women remain underrepresented in positions of power, and family and caregiving responsibilities are still unequally distributed.
Women significantly underrepresented in leadership roles
Of the three main levels of power, women have the highest participation in the Council of Ministers. In contrast, their representation in the House of Representatives, local government, the boards of the largest publicly listed companies on the Cyprus Stock Exchange, as well as in the boards of public broadcasting and sports organisations, remains notably low.
Specifically, only 14% of Members of Parliament in Cyprus are women, compared to 33% in the EU. The same low figure (14%) applies to members of the board of the Central Bank of Cyprus, while the EU average stands at 29%. In the private sector, women hold just 9% of board positions in the largest listed companies, versus 34% in the EU.
In the category of “managers and administrative officers”, men are 289.3% more numerous among the self-employed and 190.9% more as employees. In total, only 187 women work as self-employed managers. While men dominate in self-employment and general employment, women form the majority in specialised roles but lag significantly in leadership positions.
Gender equality in Cyprus compared to the EU
These inequalities place Cyprus in 20th place among the 27 EU member states in the 2024 Gender Equality Index, with a score of 60.9 points, while the EU average stands at 71 points.
Nonetheless, Cyprus has made significant progress over the past two decades. Its Gender Equality Index score nearly doubled, from 38.5 points in 2005 to 60.9 in 2024. Compared to 2023, Cyprus improved its ranking by one place, from 21st to 20th. However, despite this improvement, the country still lags behind the EU average.
Gender Equality Commissioner Josie Christodoulou noted: “The overall progress recorded is a significant step for our country, but it should not lead to complacency. The report serves as a useful tool to continue advancing in areas where Cyprus performs well, but more importantly, to improve in sectors where the gender gap remains wide.”
Gender pay gap still favouring men
The greatest progress has been made in the areas of employment (equal access to jobs and good working conditions) and financial resources (access to economic means and financial well-being). Nevertheless, in terms of figures, the gender pay gap stands at 12.2%, slightly above the EU average of 12%. Among accountants and administrative professionals, men earn an average of €2,885 compared to €2,560 for women. In the ICT sector, men’s average salary is €1,756, while women earn €1,485, with differences in some specialisations reaching up to €1,018.
Also read: Cyprus appoints first Ambassador for Gender Equality in Sport
Source: Economy Today
