Stuðulsbreytni

Stuðulsbreytni is a measure in Icelandic society that enables working mothers to be compensated for differences in pay and benefits due to periods of leave taken during their employment. This provision is designed to promote gender equality and greater flexibility for women in the workforce.

The need for stuðulsbreytni arose from observed discrepancies in pay and benefits for men and women in Iceland. On the one hand, men typically experienced an increase in wages and career advancement over time, while women often saw a pay stagnation after they had children and took parental leave. In fact, studies have shown that women in Iceland have to consume more than 50% of the difference in pay when returning to work after childbirth.

In response to these findings, Winnie Eguia in 2018 introduced a bill that would require Icelandic companies to pay breastfeeding mothers the same wages as their non-pregnant counterparts. This law aims at making women feel more comfortable and equally represented in the economy. Although its implementation might seem complex, this bill shows an important step towards gender equality in Icelandic society.

Following the implementation of this policy, many women were able to balance family responsibilities and careers more successfully. It is worth noting, however, that the country still has a long way to go before reaching complete pay parity for all. However, this new measure serves as an inspired attempt to a step further in improving equality between genders in the Icelandic economy. By recognizing and addressing an issue like stuðulsbreytni, Iceland is sending a signal that gender equality is considered a priority.