They are mothers, friends, or colleagues – an integral part of our society. March 8th is dedicated to them. And, as every year, thousands of people will take to the streets on this day. The fight for equality is still not over in 2025: Women continue to shoulder the majority of unpaid care and domestic work, are less likely to hold leadership positions, and are paid less.

Wage Gaps Still High

Not only is there a significant imbalance in unpaid care work, but wage disparities also persist. While men, statistically, are paid for their work starting from January 1st, women are working for free until March 7th this year. This is shown by the latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office. The percentage gap in the average gross earnings of women and men remains at 16%. Even when controlling for factors such as position, education, qualifications, and working hours, the so-called adjusted gender pay gap is still 6%. Over the course of a lifetime, this amounts to a difference of several hundred thousand euros.

The Impact of Collective Agreements

To address this injustice, IG Metall is strongly advocating for more gender equality and better working conditions. In unionized companies, the gender pay gap between women and men is significantly lower than in non-unionized businesses. On average, women covered by collective agreements in the metal and electrical industry earn 10.55 euros more per hour than those in non-unionized companies.

In addition to the ongoing fight for better working conditions and greater equality, there is now another battle: the fight to safeguard the achievements of recent decades. In Germany, as in other European Union countries, populist, anti-democratic, and even anti-feminist trends are gaining strength. Women’s rights, gender justice, and equality are increasingly under pressure. We also call on the new federal government to advance women’s and equality policies. Do what is necessary – equality now!

Demonstration “Feminist, Solidarity, Unionized”

This year as well, a broad feminist, urban political, and trade union alliance is calling for a demonstration on International Women's Day:

• When: March 8, 2025, 12:30 PM
• Where: From Oranienplatz to Rotes Rathaus