2 November 2010

To coincide with Equal Pay Day (2 November 2010), the day of the year when women in effect stop getting paid because of the gender pay gap of 16.4 per cent, the Equality and Human Rights Commission is today publishing the report 'Equal Pay - Where Next?', in partnership with the Fawcett Society, UNISON and the TUC. The report explores four key aspects of tackling the gender pay gap: making the business case for equal pay; how the structure and organisation of the workplace plays a part in the equal pay debate; the adequacy or inadequacy of the legislative framework underpinning equal pay; and attitudes and culture surrounding equal pay.

It captures the debate and discussion generated by these themes and the resulting recommendations to tackle the decades-old challenge of the gender pay gap with renewed vigour and innovative solutions -- ranging from increasing transparency to addressing the cultural issues that make it difficult for women to balance work and family life or close off lucrative career paths to girls.

Jean Irvine, Commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:"Four decades after the Equal Pay Act, the pay gap remains a stubborn 16.4 % and many are asking where do we go from here? There isn't one simple answer. We must seek innovative ways to increase transparency, look at what role the law can play and explore where culture change can make a difference. This report is an important contribution to the debate, for the first time bringing together key players -- ranging from business to unions -- to discuss and debate ways forward.

"Transparency is important. It is difficult, if not impossible, to resolve a problem that cannot be seen. But if we are to truly tackle the pay gap, transparency will have to be matched with similar efforts to transform the world of work that makes it all too difficult for women and indeed men to balance work and family, as well as tackle the factors that close off more lucrative career paths to far too many girls."

Download a copy of the report Equal Pay - Where Next? (PDF)