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01/10/2010
'Made in Dagenham' Pioneers Equal Pay
On the day a new film is released that tells the story of how a group of 1960s women fought for equal pay, workers have won new rights that will help to stamp out pay discrimination.
Most provisions of the 2010 Equality Act take effect from today, including a measure to stop pay secrecy clauses being used to hide unfair differences between what men and women are paid.
The change in the law coincides with the release of Made in Dagenham, a British film about the women of the Ford assembly plant in East London who, in 1968, launched a campaign to demand equal pay. Their actions led to the creation of the 1970 Equal Pay Act.
Around 90% of the Act comes into force today, making the law simpler by bringing together nine pieces of legislation under a single banner. The Government will announce in due course its plans for the remaining parts of the Equality Act.
Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equality Theresa May met four of the original strikers last week.
She said: "Thanks to pioneers like the women who feature in Made in Dagenham, the workplace is much fairer than it was in 1968. But there is still plenty of room for improvement.
She added: "In these challenging economic times it's more important than ever for employers to make the most of all the talent available. When a company reflects the society it serves, it's better for the employer, the employees and the customers, so being a woman should never be a barrier to being treated fairly at work.
"From today the gagging clauses that stop people discussing their pay with their colleagues will be unenforceable, allowing women and men to find out if they're being paid unfairly.
"This move towards transparency is just one part of the Equality Act, which also makes it easier for businesses to comply with discrimination law by streamlining the equality laws, and provides more protection to disabled people."
The Act brings together nine different laws, including the Equal Pay Act, into a single piece of legislation, simplifying the law and reducing the administrative burden on businesses.
(BMcN/BMcC)
Most provisions of the 2010 Equality Act take effect from today, including a measure to stop pay secrecy clauses being used to hide unfair differences between what men and women are paid.
The change in the law coincides with the release of Made in Dagenham, a British film about the women of the Ford assembly plant in East London who, in 1968, launched a campaign to demand equal pay. Their actions led to the creation of the 1970 Equal Pay Act.
Around 90% of the Act comes into force today, making the law simpler by bringing together nine pieces of legislation under a single banner. The Government will announce in due course its plans for the remaining parts of the Equality Act.
Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equality Theresa May met four of the original strikers last week.
She said: "Thanks to pioneers like the women who feature in Made in Dagenham, the workplace is much fairer than it was in 1968. But there is still plenty of room for improvement.
She added: "In these challenging economic times it's more important than ever for employers to make the most of all the talent available. When a company reflects the society it serves, it's better for the employer, the employees and the customers, so being a woman should never be a barrier to being treated fairly at work.
"From today the gagging clauses that stop people discussing their pay with their colleagues will be unenforceable, allowing women and men to find out if they're being paid unfairly.
"This move towards transparency is just one part of the Equality Act, which also makes it easier for businesses to comply with discrimination law by streamlining the equality laws, and provides more protection to disabled people."
The Act brings together nine different laws, including the Equal Pay Act, into a single piece of legislation, simplifying the law and reducing the administrative burden on businesses.
(BMcN/BMcC)
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26 September 2008
Funding Boost Of £455m For Equal Pay Claims
Funding of £455m will be awarded to councils in England to allow back payments relating to thousands of equal pay claims from women workers. In a move to speed up long-term commitments to achieving equal pay for all council workers, local government minister John Healey gave the go-ahead to 34 councils to raise the money through capitlisation.
Funding Boost Of £455m For Equal Pay Claims
Funding of £455m will be awarded to councils in England to allow back payments relating to thousands of equal pay claims from women workers. In a move to speed up long-term commitments to achieving equal pay for all council workers, local government minister John Healey gave the go-ahead to 34 councils to raise the money through capitlisation.
27 February 2006
Report highlights gender pay gap in the UK
Women are still being paid less than men, thirty years after the introduction of equal pay legislation, a new report has found. The government-commissioned "Shaping a Fairer Future" report from the Women and Work Commission found that women are earning 17% less than men. This was "bad for women and bad for Britain", the report said.
Report highlights gender pay gap in the UK
Women are still being paid less than men, thirty years after the introduction of equal pay legislation, a new report has found. The government-commissioned "Shaping a Fairer Future" report from the Women and Work Commission found that women are earning 17% less than men. This was "bad for women and bad for Britain", the report said.
04 March 2009
EU Launches Campaign To Tackle Gender Pay Gap
The European Commission has launched an EU-wide campaign to help tackle the gender pay gap. Across the EU economy, women earn on average 17.4% less than men.
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The European Commission has launched an EU-wide campaign to help tackle the gender pay gap. Across the EU economy, women earn on average 17.4% less than men.
27 January 2006
Prison staff receive £50 million equal pay deal
More than 3,000 equal pay disputes in the prison service have been settled in a deal worth around £50 million, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has announced. The union said that individual payouts would range from £500 to £50,000, depending on grade and the length of time an application has been lodged.
Prison staff receive £50 million equal pay deal
More than 3,000 equal pay disputes in the prison service have been settled in a deal worth around £50 million, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has announced. The union said that individual payouts would range from £500 to £50,000, depending on grade and the length of time an application has been lodged.
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