Equal Pay Day campaign held in North Station

In a symbolic action to call attention to the gender pay gap, a group of activists gathered in Brussels’ North Station this morning. The socialist trade union ABVV and women’s movement Zij-Kant led the demonstration, which invited passers-by to “follow” a career path fraught with obstacles and deviations for women, but a fast lane for men.

March 18 is Equal Pay Day in Belgium, the day from which women start earning the same annual salary as men in the same job. The difference between what men and women in Belgium earn in the same job every month is 21 percent.

The ABVV and Zij-Kant point out that a big portion of the gender pay gap remains unexplained. Their notoriously controversial campaign posters this year portray photos of minorities other than women, begging the question to the general public, employers and policy makers: "You find it outrageous that bald, red-haired, overweight or black people should earn less. Why do you think it is okay for women?".