In a fresh attempt to battle gender inequality in the workplace, Prime Minister David Cameron has asked large firms to cough up salary data.
Companies with more than 250 employees will be required to show officials the difference in how they pay their male and female staff.
Across Europe, there remain huge issues with gender inequality in remuneration
The government believes that by increasing transparency over wages, businesses will feel more pressure to pay women more equitably.
Across Europe, there remain huge issues with gender inequality in remuneration. The Office for National Statistics reports that men are paid on average (median) 9.4 percent more than their female counterparts. The Fawcett Society suggests that the figure could be as high as 15 percent when cast as a mean.
In a study into the gender pay gap, the EC has blamed factors such as “direct discrimination”, gender roles and traditions, and fewer women in leadership positions for the major discrepancies.
Speaking about the new rules around gender gap transparency, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said that the productivity and employment of women equal to men would add almost £600bn to the economy – helping to clear a third of national debt.
Some have criticised the move as unnecessary. Writing for The Spectator, Kate Andrews points out that ONS figures show women between the ages of 22-29 and 30-39 earn more than men, suggesting that Cameron’s plan will “force businesses to… create more bogus numbers and further perpetuate the (gender pay gap) myth.” Others argue that it will take more than data to push women to the top of corporate ladders.