News

Brussels, 22 September 2014 - During the Plenary Meeting of the European Social Dialogue Committee on Telecommunications, the social partners UNI Europa and ETNO (the European Telecommunication Network Operators’ Association) signed a Joint Declaration on gender equality.

This Joint Declaration reaffirms the position of the social partners in the telecom sector on gender equality and its belief that diversity in all functions and at all levels of a company is crucial. The social partners already highlighted their sector’s commitment in their report “Diversity at Work”, published in 2007.

Torben Andresen Lindhardt, the President of the Telecom Social Dialogue Committee from Dansk Metal, said: “Independent career possibilities, independent wage conditions and independent work life balance is crucial for women in the ICT sector. I am very happy about this joint declaration and hope that ETNO members will do their best to implement this at local company level.”

ETNO Director Daniel Pataki said: “Equality between women and men is one of the European Union's founding values. In the telecom sector, we see it as key to achieving a diverse and talented workforce.” 

The social partners encourage all stakeholders in the telecom sector to ensure that women receive equal treatment and have equal opportunities in terms of accessing jobs and employment. Gender equality should be increasingly promoted regarding vocational training, qualifications and career development in the ICT sector. This includes access to top management and management positions, equal pay and equal working conditions and work life balance.

The Joint Declaration on gender equality can be retrieved below.