Page 43 - U4SSC Factsheet, Valencia, Spain, June 2020

Gender income equity in Valencia needs to be improved further – although the figure is similar to
national trends, which show that there is a 23 per cent pay gap between the average earnings of men
and women. According to a recent study from Spain’s National Institute of Statistics (INE), women
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spend almost double the amount of time on unpaid work as men, dedicating 26.5 hours a week to
non-remunerated tasks (such as caring for children or family members, household chores, courses,
non-profit work), compared with just 14 hours for men. The study also found an over-representation
of women in temporary and part-time positions.

Enhancing gender parity: It is recommended that Valencia ensures that the equality plan of the Valencia
City Council focuses on increasing gender parity outcomes in the areas of employment, participation
in management mechanisms, education, health, protection from violence against women and urban
services. The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and
other national plans and international conventions are helpful sources that can provide reference. The
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city should also conduct gender analysis of its city/municipal departments, commissions and boards.

Lastly, increasing the number of institutes and facilities available for childcare in the city (from the
current reported levels) that are affordable while granting a good learning and safe environment for
children will help mothers capitalize on equal opportunities in the labour force, as they would not
be limited by the lack of affordable and quality childcare facilities. This can be achieved by adopting
progressive and equality-centred fiscal, wage and social protection policies.

The rate of poverty in Valencia is in line with the national average of 22.30 per cent (2017). Valencia’s
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Gini coefficient is the same as Spain’s at 0.34. A 2017 report by Oxfam Intercom ranked it as the third
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country in the European Union (EU) where inequality has grown the most since the 2008–2009 global
financial crisis began. Therefore, these indicators should continue to be monitored and mitigated
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through mechanisms such as locally implementable social services. In particular, it is recommended
that Valencia measures the level of risk of poverty or social exclusion among children and youth that
may be inherent in its reported figures for these indicators.

For more information on any specific projects already planned or underway, please see the section on
‘Goals and Projects for a Smart Sustainable Future’.

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