EPIC’s Steering Committee meets to determine way forward for 2022

25 Mar 2022

Under new Chairmanship – the Government of Canada – EPIC’s Steering Committee met virtually for three hours on Thursday 17th February 2022, to deliberate a range of far-reaching issues. The meeting started with a discussion on the progress made and challenges experienced, in implementing the 2021 Plan of Work. Notably EPIC welcomed six new members in 2021, but regrettably, as a result of the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic, two of its smaller members were forced to cease operations.

Representatives from the governments of Canada, Egypt, Iceland, Jordan, New Zealand, Panama, South Africa and Switzerland, as well as representatives from the International Organisation of Employers and the International Trade Union Confederation shared highlights of their own work to reduce the gender pay gap. They also discussed the following matters and provided appropriate guidance to the Secretariat on the way forward:

• Governnance of EPIC;

• Expanding EPIC’s membership;

• Recognition of EPIC good practices;

• EPIC’s plan of work for 2022; and

• Funding gaps.

Finally, Steering Committee members discussed possible topics of interest for the forthcoming online community sharing portal. This portal will provide EPIC members with a space to express views, experiences and ideas on how to tackle the gender pay gap, and follow ongoing exchanges.