Narrowing Gender Pay Gap

11-11-2005

There was a narrowing in the gender pay gap last year thanks to the number of women breaking through the glass ceiling into higher paid jobs and the consequent effect on employers of high-profile discrimination cases.

Although the average man in a full-time job still earns about £100 a week more than the average woman, evidence from the Office for National Statistics showed that the gradual trend towards greater equality continued in 2005.

The Fawcett Society, which campaigns for pay equality between the sexes, said the improvement for women was not coming quickly enough, and at the current rate of progress it would take 30 years to close the earnings gap.

They are seeking compulsory audits to reveal pay inequalities; stronger, well-enforced laws to ensure fair treatment of part-time employees; full sign-up to the Working Time Directive and other steps to tackle Britain's long hours culture, which limits career advancement for women and men's involvement at home.

It is widely agreed that the narrowing of the pay gap has been the result of several high-profile discrimination cases brought on by the fact that women who are paid less for doing the same job as a man, know that they can bring a strong case against their employer.

The TUC has warned however, that this is no cause for complacency as part-time women are still as badly paid as ever.

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