Just a few days ago Equal Pay Day Slovakia conference was held in Bratislava. For the second time, event managed to draw the attention of companies, organizations, the media, and public.
At the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, people who care deeply about equality and want to make our society better came together to address a key issue: the fact that women work for free for about two months of the year.
The Equal Pay Day conference, brought to Slovakia by Martina Novotná, founder of Akčné ženy, o.z., focused extensively on the topic of the “women’s euro.” Moderators, speakers, and ambassadors openly discussed wage inequality, but they did not stop there.
The event was packed with positive examples from practice, tips for achieving equal pay in the workplace, and panel discussions on age discrimination, intergenerational collaboration, talent drain, and financial literacy.
The Symbolism of Red: From Deficit to Strength
“Two years ago, I would not have imagined waking up and going to bed with the colour red every day, but today I started my day with the slogan ‘We’re going red.’ Red symbolizes a deficit in accounting and represents the minus of Equal Pay Day. However, we view it positively. For us, it is a symbol of energy and female strength, a symbol of our ability to make changes, amplify women’s voices, and highlight the critical work they do,” said Martina Novotná, the organizer of Equal Pay Day Slovakia, in her opening remarks.
Equal Pay Day Conference
Philip Morris Slovakia Returns as the General Partner
“I am very proud that our company can support this event for the second year in a row. The topic of equal working conditions and equal pay is very close to my heart, not only because I am a lawyer but also because I am a woman and, most importantly, the mother of an 11-year-old daughter. That is why it is essential to talk about these issues,” said Nadežda Beňová Miklovičová from Philip Morris Slovakia.
Survey by 2muse on Perceived Inequality in Pay in Slovakia
A survey conducted by 2muse, presented by Patrícia Kollár and Michal Vyšinský, revealed that considerable progress compared to the previous year is still lacking. However, awareness of various types of discrimination, including those linked to pay disparities, has increased.
While age discrimination remains the most common form of workplace bias, the survey showed that women, especially mothers, are the most vulnerable group in terms of workplace inequality. Employers are beginning to address these issues with measures like flexible working options and part-time roles.
Respondents highlighted stereotypes about older employees being less adaptable and younger workers lacking experience. Data revealed that men and women aged 45–50 often feel insecure about their jobs. Aditionally, they face significant anxiety about their roles, making them more likely to accept lower pay and less likely to negotiate salaries.
Equal Pay Day Conference
Panel Discussions on Critical Topics at Equal Pay Day
The conference featured a series of expert panel discussions. They presented topics such as intergenerational understanding, financial literacy, the destabilizing effects of young talent leaving Slovakia, and the challenges of succession planning within companies. Participants received numerous practical tips on implementing fair pay policies and eliminating age discrimination in the workplace.
“Fighting discrimination, especially age discrimination, is one of our company principles. We take preventive measures and foster mutual respect. Discrimination of any kind has no place here. For example, we have programs that allow mothers to actively participate in projects during their maternity leave, working when it suits them,” said Martina Kandera from Slovak Telekom.
“Although I studied in Austria, I never considered staying there. Opportunities found me here in Slovakia, and it was always important for me to stay close to my family. We must think about the culture we want to live in and raise our children in,” said Sandra Balážiková from ING Hubs Slovakia.
“If half of humanity is responsible for the very existence of our species, then they should receive something in return. Thanks to women, we live, and it should be a given that disparities are eliminated. Offering flexibility to mothers came naturally to us, and this approach should be the norm across society,” added Andrej Zaťko from 365.bank.
Mentoring and an Engaged Audience at Equal Pay Day
The importance of the conference’s topics resonated with participants not only during the event but also through mentoring sessions. Outstanding mentors shared real-life examples and solutions tailored to various age groups. The success of the mentoring sessions and the audience’s active engagement underscored an urgency. The urgency of continuing discussions about all forms of discrimination.
Equal Pay Day Conference
Equal Pay Day 2025
The most vulnerable groups of men and women need our support and action. Equal Pay Day is not just a symbolic day when women try to catch up with men’s pay. Equal Pay Day is about providing everyone with an equal starting line. It is also about tolerance, respect, and mutual appreciation. Regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status.
“We owe great thanks to our partners, supporters, and ambassadors. With their help, we launched the Equal Pay Initiative earlier this year, and dozens of additional companies have since joined. The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family has invited us to collaborate. Aditionally, we managed to do so on transposing the directive on pay transparency, which also aims to reduce wage inequality.
We have conducted workshops focused on discrimination and expanded Equal Pay Day activities to regional areas. We will keep working tirelessly and have already begun preparing for the third conference because we truly believe in this mission,” concluded Martina Novotná, founder of the Akčné ženy magazine and organizer of Equal Pay Day.
Thank you to all the conference partners and participants for their strong attendance and positive feedback. We look forward to seeing you at the third annual Equal Pay Day conference on November 19, 2025!
