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Action could boost the Scottish economy by £17.2billion
THE SNP Government have been told to use devolved powers to close the gender pay gap – and boost the Scottish economy by a massive £17.2billion.
MSPs probing the unfair gulf between men and women in work set out their demands in a hard-hitting report published today.
Among the proposals, Holyrood’s Economy Committee said:
● Firms should have to reveal their own pay gap if they want to bid for lucrative public contracts.
● The Government should set up programmes to improve chances for people returning to work.
● The female-dominated care sector should be given a greater status by the Government.
● And enterprise agencies should have to prove they’re fully committed to a fair pay scheme by focusing on gender inequality.
The long-running inquiry heard first-hand from women in work, who lifted the lid on dreadful experiences with pay compared to male colleagues.
Complaints included a deeprooted “old boys’ network” and the assumption that women can’t work as well after having children.
Committee convener Gordon Lindhurst said: “The committee are clear there is a gender pay issue for Scotland’s workforce.
“Women across Scotland’s economy are still concentrated in low-paid jobs and part-time work.
“The pay gap primarily affects women and isn’t just attributable to women choosing to start a family or to take time out of their careers.”
Women still concentrated in low-paid, part-time work
GORDON LINDHURST
Lindhurst said the care sector is a major problem, adding: “Each and every one of us is likely to rely on professional care at some time in our lives.
“Despite radical change in skills over the years, this continues to be one of the lowest-paid, female-worker dominated sectors in Scotland.
“We want to see the Government address this issue by prioritising the care sector – it is vital that we raise the status of care in Scotland.
“Supporting everyone, both female and male, in all our sectors to achieve their full economic potential will take ambition, innovation and, for some, a shift in cultural thinking. “But it is within the Scottish Government’s power to help make this happen – and the benefits for Scotland’s economy could be significant.” The gender pay gap still exists despite unequal wages being made illegal in the UK more than 40 years ago. The committee heard that, by the age of 42, mums in full-time work earn 11 per cent less than women without children. Their report based the overall £17.2billion economic disadvantage on earlier research published by financial experts including Deloitte.
Another report last year, called Power of Parity, suggested that narrowing the gap could add £150billion to the UK economy.
MSPs said Holyrood can use powers over procurement to change regulations and close the gap.
Bidders for public works could be asked to submit their gender pay gap along the lines of new
laws covering organisations with 250 or more employees – who, from this year, have to publish details to the UK Government and on their public websites.
The research also points to a lack of work for women looking for suitable employment.
UK Government figures suggest the economy could grow 10 per cent by 2030 if the 2.2million women who wanted work could find the right jobs.
Last night, Scottish Government Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “Closing the gender pay gap is a priority, both in terms of promoting equality and boosting economic growth, and we will consider this report carefully.
“We are already taking decisive action to address the issue, including transforming early learning and childcare to support more women back in to work, as well as taking measures to challenge pregnancy and maternity discrimination.
“We are also funding returners’ programmes that will help women returners get back into work after a career break – such as that delivered by Equate Scotland, which is helping women re-join the labour market by offering targeted support.”
Hepburn added: “While the gap in Scotland of 6.2 per cent is well below the UK figure of 9.4 per cent, we are not complacent and recognise we must remain focused on action to promote gender pay equality.”