Equal Pay Day 2025: POTENTIAL

This year's Equal Pay Day focuses on the persistent gender pay gap in the Czech Republic – the disparity in earnings between women and men. This gap not only highlights the issue of unequal pay but also represents a loss of significant societal potential, often untapped due to stereotypes, insufficient support for work-life balance, and ineffective communication.

Program 25.3.2025 Program 26.3.2025

UNLOCKING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF BOTH WOMEN AND MEN is the key to a successful Czech Republic, driving economic transformation, innovation, growth, and positive societal change.

According to the Global Gender Gap Index 2024, the Czech Republic ranks 104th overall, 106th in equal pay for equal work, and 39th among European countries.

Currently, there are only 16 signatories of the UN WOMEN project Women’s Empowerment Principles in the Czech Republic who have publicly committed to actively working towards equal opportunities for women and men in the workplace. At the same time, the country continues to face a persistent double-digit gender pay gap, disadvantaging women. Gender equality is often met with indifference, perhaps because the real impacts are still not widely understood. One of these impacts is the wasted POTENTIAL, something we can no longer afford.

The 16th annual Equal Pay Day has a bold goal: TO OPEN THE EYES OF THE ENTIRE SOCIETY, because the data speaks clearly. Let’s unlock our potential and aim for the number one spot globally. Join us at Equal Pay Day to explore solutions and paths forward…

Conference Program

8:15 – 9:00

REGISTRATION | a space for informal networking

8:55 – 9:05

RIGHT TIME CLOSE THE PAY GAP, BEST TIME OPEN OUR CONFERENCE

Gabriela Bechynská
Senior Manager, Government and Public Affairs, EMEA The LEGO Group

Manu Chilaud
Manufacturing Director Czechia Mondelez International

9:05 – 9:20

EQUAL IN 2025: IS POTENTIAL STILL BELIEVED IN OR ALREADY DOUBTED?

Altynay Tezekova
Director People&Culture at Philip Morris International

11:00 – 11:05

WHAT NEXT

Gabriela Bechynská a Manu Chilaud

11:05 – 11:20

BEYOND THE PAYCHECK – Tackling the Pay Gap from Childhood to Boardroom

Francisc Kiss
Specialised Nutrition Director CEE Danone

Why the gender pay gap persists
What companies can do today to drive real change
How Danone CEE built a culture of fair pay and inclusion
Why diversity isn’t just a social good—it’s a business advantage
Talk about facts, not excuses and strive for action.

12:05 – 12:15

WHAT WE’VE HEARD – CHECKLIST – WHAT’S NEXT

Gabriela Bechynská a Manu Chilaud

12:15 – 13:30

NETWORKING LUNCH
Hotel restaurant Veduta in 2nd floor

13:30 – 13:40

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

13:40 – 13:55

AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING… THERE’S ME

If you need a boost to get out of your chair and be filled with positive energy that comes from dedication, hard work, and unstoppable enthusiasm, then don’t miss her talk: “At the Beginning of Everything… There’s Me!”

Jana Havrdová
Vice President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce