Workplace Pay Gaps

Ben Gummer asks when the landmark race equality Act will be brought before the House and what measures are planned to ensure accurate reporting of ethnic pay gaps.

Ben Obaze clarifies that he does not have detailed knowledge of past Labour policy but inquires about the 2024 pay gap figures for gender, ethnicity, and disability within the party.

Asked the Minister whether additional legislation would close the remaining gender pay gap more quickly or have no impact on the current trajectory. He also inquired about plans to address differing pay gaps across industries and within specific age demographics.

Women in Scotland can expect to earn £3,000 a year less than men. Local authority workers need fair wages that reflect their value.

Highlights that disabled workers are paid an average of over £2 an hour less than non-disabled workers. Women experience double discrimination, facing both the gender pay gap and disability pay gap, which has barely moved under the previous Government.

Agreed that there must be no distinction in pay based on gender or any other differential, advocating for pay equality right across the spectrum.

Welcomes the Employment Rights Bill but calls for further enforcement measures to ensure employers meet gender pay gap reporting requirements. Questions why the bill confines itself to businesses with 250 employees or more, instead of extending it to those with 50 employees.

Discussed the pay gap issue in Northern Ireland, highlighting a significant increase in starting salary for teachers to £30,000. Emphasized the need for wage equality and legislative action from the government where companies are reluctant. Asked the Minister about discussing disability matters with Northern Ireland's equivalent minister.

Asked the Government to place more emphasis on ethnicity gap issues in the Employment Rights Bill, which is currently in Committee.

Stella Creasy questions the Labour party’s move during the pandemic to abolish gender pay gap reporting and asks for an apology from her own party. Welcomed the commitment to review parental leave but argued that shared parental leave has set back gender equality.

Emphasised the importance of legislation protecting pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave, and those returning to work. Mentioned plans for mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting.

Addressed the myth that equal pay is not about cold, hard economics. Data shows two-thirds of income difference cannot be explained by factors other than discrimination.

Research reveals mothers in the UK earn, on average, 31% less than fathers—a gap worse than before. The motherhood pay penalty leads to career breaks or reduced hours for women, resulting in limited work experience and stunted career progression. The Institute for Fiscal Studies found that seven years post childbirth, women earn less than half of what men earn.