I think the main reason why so many people dislike the "equal pay for equal work" movement is because there is a sneaking suspicion that the real motive is "equal pay for equal effort" regardless of whether or not the quality and quantity of output is the same. That is, that the real goal is equal pay regardless of equal output.
I think that this case in Sweden, where height requirements on a Volvo assembly line (for safety reasons) were ruled discriminatory because they disproportionately disqualify women, is a perfect example of what people are afraid will happen.
Theoretically, of course, Sweden did not actually require Volvo to loosen its safety requirements, because, according to Equal Opportunity Ombudsman Claes Borgstrom,
Instead, they will have to make an individual judgment of the applicants’ physical conditions for the job, for example span of reach and muscle strength.
But in reality these qualifications would likely disproportionately disqualify women as well, so if that is the requirement to prove discrimination, then any safety requirements based on the physical abilities of the applicants will be considered discrimination.
Ultimately, I predict that the government will probably mandate that women receive special treatement (e.g., special workstations, lower productivity requirements) in order to maintain both "non-discrimination" and worker safety. Which, of course, is not "equal pay for equal work," if work is determined by productivity. But many (inluding me) question whether "equal pay for equal work" was really the goal in the first place.
That is all.
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