EU to propose hiking women's pay

By LESLIE PATTON

BRUSSELS

The EU will introduce new rules to equalize women's average pay with men's thrughout the 27-nation bloc, a top official said Friday.

EU Fundamental Rights Commissioner Viviane Reding said she was "deeply concerned that the gender pay gap has barely fallen over the last 15 years."

Women in the EU earn 82 cents for every euro1 that men bring in, according to a newly released study.

Reding said she will propose more concrete suggestions later this year. "Gender equality has to be integrated in all of our policies," she said.

The European Commision also plans to step up punishment for companies who don't follow current gender pay laws -- but gave no details of possible sanctions. Officials said they intend to introduce measures that would increase transparency in pay gaps.