Women “will no longer receive their pension” for several months, here's why

This is a symbolic consequence for former employees.

The end of the year is synonymous with good news for millions of retirees. Between those who receive the transfer of 600 euros to catch up on an increase that was not applied, then the increase in their basic pension, and all affiliates to Agirc-Arrco who will benefit from an increase in their supplementary pension, the coming weeks will strengthen the budget of the elderly.

However, a snag is about to stop this salvo of announcements. A direct consequence of the professional career and its level of remuneration. Which already penalizes women in everyday life is now taking a particularly symbolic turn.

This is a truth that comes back tirelessly every year. It evolves, marginally, over the years, but remains ever present in everyday life. Between men and women, pay gaps persist and, although the trend towards egalitarianism (equal positions) is gaining ground, it is still not a given.

According to the latest INSEE study on the issue, With similar working hours and positions in the private sector, female employees earn 4% less than their male counterparts. But overall, the gap in annual income is around 23.5%. A difference linked in particular to part-time work, which is more common among women, which is inevitably felt in the retirement pension.

As the latter is calculated on the salaries received during one's career, the gaps persist and are even more significant because today's retirees worked at a time when the inequality of remuneration was more significant. Data from the Ministry of Solidarity attest to this.

According to the latest consolidated data, dating from 2021, on average, a retiree receives 1,425 euros gross each month (direct and derived pension), compared to 1,976 euros gross for a retiree, or 28% less. A numerical gap that is difficult to perceive. In concrete terms, this amounts to to say that if women had pensions as high, on average, as men, they would no longer receive a single euro from retirement insurance from this Thursday, September 19, until the end of the year.