Brussels, 8 March 2025 – This International Women’s Day, EFFAT stresses its key findings from our comprehensive report – “Understanding Gender Inequalities in EFFAT Sectors” – bringing into sharp focus the persistent gender inequalities across food, agriculture, tourism, and domestic work sectors.
Our report reveals stark realities: women often occupy lower-paid and lower-skilled roles, with limited opportunities for advancement. The gender pay gap remains a critical issue, with some sectors experiencing disparities as high as 30% in agriculture in Spain and over 16% in hospitality in Cyprus for example.
Our survey highlighted critical disparities in the food and drink industries: Women make up nearly 50% of food workers and over 70% in drink production, yet they earn 18% less than men on average. Moreover, sexual harassment remains a pervasive issue, with 30 to 50% of women reporting experiencing gender-based violence (GBV) at work.
Key findings from our in-depth research highlight migrant women as a particularly vulnerable workforce, facing informal contracts, exploitation, and limited protections. Work-life balance continues to be a significant challenge, with caregiving responsibilities frequently pushing women into part-time work and precarious employment conditions.
Sector-specific insights from the report include:
• Agriculture relies heavily on seasonal work with precarious working conditions, leaving women in particularly unstable employment situations.
• Food and drink industries demonstrate a persistent “glass ceiling” that impedes women’s professional advancement and leadership opportunities.
• Domestic work remains deeply undervalued and informal, with workers often lacking basic labor protections and fair compensation.
• Tourism sectors continue to leverage women labour in low-paying roles, perpetuating cycles of economic marginalization.
As Grace Papa, our Gender Equality and Diversity Policy Officer, says:
“We stand united in our mission to dismantle structural barriers, challenge discriminatory practices, and create workplaces where women’s rights, contributions, and potential are fully recognized and valued.”
This International Women’s Day, EFFAT uses these research findings to renew our commitment to transformative change. We stand united in our mission to dismantle structural barriers, challenge discriminatory practices, and create workplaces where women’s rights, contributions, and potential are fully recognized and valued.
The full report is available in EN – DE – ES
