A UN day highlighting the gender pay gap and calling for equal pay for work of equal value.
Date18 September
TopicHuman Rights & Equality
Established2019
Ways to observe this day
Learn about the gender pay gap in your field
Advocate for pay transparency policies at your workplace
Discuss the issue with colleagues
Follow ILO reports on equal pay
On November 15, 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution designating September 18 as International Equal Pay Day, first observed in 2020, through a joint initiative of the UN, the ILO, UN Women, and the OECD.
The day promotes the principle of equal pay for work of equal value and raises awareness of the gender pay gap that persists in every region of the world, estimated at around 20 percent globally, meaning women are paid less than men for the same or comparable work.
Human rights organizations, labor unions, and employers mark the day with awareness campaigns and reports analyzing the causes of the pay gap, urging governments and companies to review wage policies and adopt transparency and equality in the workplace.