New commission to tackle gender pay gap

Monday, 26 July 2004 12:00 AM

The Prime Minister has announced that the Government is setting up a special commission to examine the gender pay gap.

Despite decades of equal opportunities legislation, women on average still earn 18 per cent less than their full-time male colleagues, a gap that climbs to 40 per cent when working part-time.

The Women and Work Commission will examine all issues surrounding part and full-time work, promotion, career progression, the "glass ceiling", and women's experience in the job market, both before and after having children.

Tony Blair announced the establishment of the Commission at the Labour Party's National Policy Forum this weekend as part of a package of measures designed to boost workers' rights.

Other measures proposed for the next election manifesto include an extra eight days of holiday for workers, obtained by excluding bank holidays from the statutory minimum holiday requirement, and pension protection when employees move jobs.

Trade and Industry Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, admitted that despite improvements "persistent differences in men and women's experience of the labour market remain.

"Making progress on the gender pay gap is a key priority because we have to draw on the skills and talents of all potential workers - men and women. Women have the right to expect a fair deal in the labour market," Ms Hewitt concluded.

The Commission, to be chaired by Baroness Margaret Prosser, currently chair of the Women's National Commission, will begin work this autumn and report to the Government within a year.

Julie Mellor, chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said she was "delighted" at the Commission's establishment.

Ms Mellor said: "This issue needs urgent, concerted action and the EOC is delighted that the Government is committed to reducing the pay gap.

"Tackling the pay gap will require helping parents and carers to balance the demands of family and work, better use of women's skills in the economy and equal pay legislation that is effective in ending pay discrimination. Individual women and their families, business and the wider economy would benefit.

"The EOC looks forward to feeding in the recommendations from our current statutory investigations into why women and men still work in different job areas, discrimination against pregnant women at work and flexible working."

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