New equal rights planned

The women's committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has criticised as too narrow a proposed European Commission directive on equal access to goods and services.

The proposed directive will set out a general right to equal access to all goods and services irrespective of gender. It will, however, allow for exceptions where a service is intended exclusively for a single sex, such as women-only swimming sessions or hairdressing.

In particular the directive will outlaw differing treatment of men and women by the insurance and pensions industry. For example, it would no longer be lawful for women to get a worse pension than men in return for the same annuity, simply because they have a longer life expectancy. Higher motor insurance premiums for men would also be unlawful.

The ETUC, while welcoming the proposals on insurance and pensions, has criticised the Commission for failing to tackle other issues.

Fotini Sianou, president of the ETUC Women's Committee, said: "Women experience discrimination in many areas of life including education, social assistance, taxation, in advertising and the media. The new directive should address these and other examples of discrimination... if it is to make any real difference".