Female athletes in Belgium earn 81% less than their male counterparts, according to the Institute for Equality of Women and Men's annual salary disparity report.
The report says gender parity has improved globally in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the accompanying economic recovery. The global wage gap is now at 7%, down from 8% the previous year. In the private sector, the gap has decreased by one and a half percentage points to 10.2%, while in the public sector it is 4.2%.
However, the gap is significantly wider in the sports sector, with women earning up to 81% less than male athletes.
"Professional disparities between women and men are vast," says Institute Director Michel Pasteel. "Only 6% of professional athletes are women. What is more, for 59% of these women, this is part-time work, compared to just 30% of their male counterparts. The idea of being a part-time top-level athlete is unrealistic: in practice, this means being paid part-time to dedicate more than full-time to one's sport."
How can the gap be bridged? The Institute suggests measures such as equal prizes for comparable competitions in men's and women's sports, increased media coverage of women's and mixed competitions, and equal support from public authorities and federations for athletes.
The report also notes that a new social security scheme for salaried athletes has been in effect since 2022. Previously, social security contributions were based on capped income, but they are now calculated on actual wages.
