Endorsement confirms equal pay for equivalent work among men and women

IPM India Wholesale Trading Private Limited, a country affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), today announced that it has successfully obtained the EQUAL-SALARY label from independent, not-for-profit, EQUAL-SALARY Foundation.

As the company transforms to become a smoke-free technology leader in this rapidly-changing 21st century, it recognizes that diverse teams and an inclusive culture are needed to drive innovation and be successful. PMI and its affiliates worldwide are focused on this aspect of the transformation and committed to tackling their gender gap first, emphasizing the role this plays as an enabler for PMI’s vision of a smoke-free world.

“IPM India Wholesale Trading Private Limited is the first organization in India to achieve the EQUAL-SALARYCertification. Our success as a company depends on a talented and diverse workforce – where individuals enjoy opportunities to learn, grow and prosper in their career. This means providing fair and equal remuneration for men and women for equivalent work, and at IPM India our values and principles call for nothing less. According to the ILO Gender Wage Report 2018/19, in India, where the gender pay gap is 34.5 percent, wage parity represents a crucial step on the road to gender parity. IPM India’s achievement as the first EQUAL-SALARY certified company in India makes us an employer of choice committed to equality and to fostering an inclusive and dynamic workforce." said Hosne Ara Loma, Director People & Culture at IPM India Wholesale Trading Private Limited.

The EQUAL-SALARY certification validates that IPM India Wholesale Trading Private Limited pays men and women equally for equivalent work, and the process is helping to focus company attention on the broader issue of gender equality. Alongside the quantitative comparison of salary data, the EQUAL-SALARY certification methodology involves a qualitative audit of management commitment to equal pay principles, of employee perception of that commitment and of HR policies and practices to identify any potential gender blind spots, and recommends actions to mitigate them.

The certification further helps identify areas for improvement and supports efforts to address the broader challenge of closing any gender talent gaps. This includes introducing flexible working arrangements and addressing gender bias across the employee journey.

Véronique Goy Veenhuys, Founder & CEO, EQUAL-SALARY Foundation, said, “IPM India Wholesale Trading Private Limited can be proud of its EQUAL-SALARY Certification, making them the frontrunner of the rigorous, independent EQUAL-SALARY methodology in India. While today, we still cannot take equal pay for equivalent work for granted, the commitment of companies like IPM India Wholesale Trading Private Limited is a welcome step forward on the journey toward achieving global wage parity, and contributes to the broader challenge of closing the gender pay gap.”

IPM India’s EQUAL-SALARY certification is part of PMI’s larger goal of becoming a truly gender-balanced, inclusive workplace. The multi-national is already tracking and publishing progress on the gender balance of its management team.

Today, women hold 35 percent of all management roles at PMI, and the company is on track to meet its goal of 40 percent by 2022.