The UK government has announced a major overhaul of the equal pay system, launching a 15-week consultation to invite views from businesses, workers, and civil society on how to improve the current framework. The move comes as a response to findings that the existing law on pay equality has become excessively complex, costly, and protracted, with thousands of equal pay claims stuck in the system.
According to the government, the current equal pay framework is too slow, too expensive, and puts too much pressure on workers, businesses, and the justice system. The consultation will invite insights on how to fix the system, with a focus on making the right to equal pay effective for ethnic minority and disabled people, establishing an equal pay regulation and enforcement unit with the involvement of trade unions, and ensuring that outsourcing of services can no longer be used by employers to avoid paying equal pay.
The government is committed to ending pay discrimination and making work pay, with equal pay reform being a key part of this plan. Fairer workplaces are more productive and better for the economy and society, and the government wants to ensure that the system is fairer for everyone.
The consultation will be open to businesses, workers, trade unions, and civil society organisations across Great Britain, with the aim of getting the detail right and making the right to equal pay effective for all. The government is keen to hear from stakeholders on how to fix the system and make it work for everyone.
Minister for Equalities Seema Malhotra MP said that the Equal Pay Act was a huge achievement 50 years ago, but it is clear that the landmark legislation needs reform to ensure it works for everyone. The current equal pay framework is too slow, too expensive, and puts too much pressure on workers, businesses, and the justice system.