Obama: Gender pay gap an ’embarrassment’

President Obama touted the importance of equal pay for equal work between men and women during his weekly address Saturday.

Obama called it an embarrassment that women earn less than men even in the same professions and with the same education.

{mosads}”This is an economic issue that affects all of us. Women make up about half our workforce. And more and more, they’re our families’ main breadwinners,” he said.

“So it’s good for everyone when women are paid fairly. That’s why, this week, I took action to prohibit more businesses from punishing workers who discuss their salaries – because more pay transparency makes it easier to spot pay discrimination. And I hope more business leaders will take up this cause.”

Just this week – on Equal Pay Day – the president took executive action to increase transparency and make it easier to recognize pay discrimination.

He’s called on Republicans in Congress to support the Paycheck Fairness Act and stop blocking progress that would benefit women – because “when women succeed, America succeeds,” he said.