More and more attention is being devoted to gender inequality over the last few years, especially in the workplace, where employment contracts set the standard. However, the gap that needs to be filled so that there are no longer differences is still wide.

Although the lifting sector is mostly male-dominated, Magni female quotas set at 35%, above the minimum threshold.  This figure demonstrates the company’s openness on this issue, which now more than ever needs to be addressed. We must be aware that there is still a long way to go in society and in the world of work. According to 2018 ISTAT (Italian Statistics Institute) data, women earn about 15% less than men for the same tasks and roles. The reasons for this gap are varied.

The most important and decision-making positions are traditionally and mostly held by men within companies. Apparently, everyone has equal rights but in practice this is not the case. This phenomenon, known as the ‘glass ceiling’, creates the illusion that everybody can achieve significant career advancement. After reaching a certain level, you come up against an invisible and thick wall of prejudice and discrimination of various kinds (gender, cultural, racial, etc.). This places concrete limits on the number of positions that women can hope to hold.

Work-life balance is another key factor. As our patriarchal society considers women as the focus of the family, it is difficult to separate their identity and their role of mothers, in charge of childcare and housework. Moreover, maternity also plays a major role. It implies the absence of mothers from work and reinforces the idea that fathers are unsuitable for childcare. Therefore, employers tend to prefer men over women. This explains why women have a low employment rate and tend to have short-term or part-time contracts.

Another cause can be found in the considerable number of women working in sectors that pay relatively less than others, such as healthcare and education (jobs that save lives and prepare children for the future after all). On the other hand, the sectors with relatively higher salaries, such as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), are mainly occupied by men, or it is often men who enjoy a certain visibility.

Finally, the current health situation has certainly not supported the cause of female workers. The economic crisis has certainly had a considerable impact and probably made things worse.

We are aware of this issue and continue to talk about it. We commit ourselves every day to set an example of work that focuses on workers’ well-being, abilities and desire to be part of our reality.