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5.3 Gender equity on recruitment, promotion, and position.

Equalising opportunities for women and men in the workplace and combating discrimination in the work-
place is a fundamental principle that is mandatory throughout the European Union. The principle of gen-
der equality is a condition in which both women and men are assigned the same social value, have equal
rights and obligations and have equal access to social resources.

The aim of equal opportunities for women and men is to counteract gender stereotypes and inequalities.
Stereotypes are beliefs about both women and men that attribute certain characteristics, talents and be-
haviours to them, stereotypes also express social expectations about the role of women and men in soci-
ety. (J. Piotrkowska, A Siekiera, A. Sznajder, 2016)

On the basis of the directives in force in EU countries, direct and indirect discrimination with regard to
conditions is prohibited:

• Access to employment, business and recruitment,
• Exemptions,
• Membership of workers’ or employers’ organisations,
• Vocational education and promotion.

Under the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (Article 157), discrimination on grounds of sex with regard
to remuneration for equal work is also prohibited.