But are women any closer to earning the same as men? Sadly not, finds NUS.
Today, on average, for every £1 a man earns a women in the same job earns just 80 pence. For women in part-time jobs, the pay gap is even bigger. This is not acceptable and action needs to be taken to force employers to close the gap and take legislation seriously.
It has been suggested that, during a recession, with global issues affecting employment and financial stability, equal pay should take a back seat and we should focus on ensuring people have jobs. But why should women compromise taking 17 per cent (full-time workers) or 36 per cent (part-time workers) less pay when they are as equally qualified and experienced as men in the same roles?
Under-valued
As well as pay, there is also the fact the women are less likely to be able to progress to senior roles in the workplace, thus resulting in women often being in jobs which they are over-qualified for and often under-valued in. So how can we change this situation?
The Fawcett Society and UNISON are running a joint campaign to highlight the issue and are calling on the government to end the ever-increasing pay gap. Research has shown the gap isn’t just stalling, it is widening and it has become even more evident that the time has come to end this inequality now. It has become obvious that the Equal Pay Act is simply not working as it stands on its own.
The Fawcett Society and UNISON briefing on the Equality Bill states that “employers should be required to carry out pay audits, and representative actions and hypothetical comparators should be permitted in discrimination claims. These measures would systematically root out the pay gap and deliver justice to those women denied equal pay.”
Have your say on equal pay
A public meeting is taking place on Monday 8 June at the Houses of Parliament for people to have their say on equal pay. The public meeting aims to urge the government to strengthen equal pay law reforms. Dr Katherine Rake OBE from the Fawcett Society will be speaking alongside Bronwyn McKenna of UNISON and cross-party parliamentarians. It is free for anyone to attend. Make sure you have your say.
If you cannot attend the event, you can sign a petition which will be sent to the government.
Make sure you have your say on equal pay.