Belgian wage gap persists: women in private sector earn 19.2% less per hour

New data from the Belgian Institute for Equality of Women and Men (IEFH) shows a persistent gender wage gap, with women in the private sector earning 19.2% less per hour than men after correcting for work duration. The uncorrected gap is 41.3%, reflecting higher part-time work among women, which is often involuntary. This highlights structural labor market segregation and may fuel policy debates on pay transparency and equal pay enforcement.