Wage war on gap
Gender pay gap exposed by research
WE ARE all aware that there remains a gender pay gap in Scotland and Labour have the figures to prove it. On average, a woman earns £191,132 less over their lifetime than a man because of the gender pay gap, the party’s analysis has revealed.
The stats are truly staggering but recognising the issue and doing something about it are two different things.
Labour’s proposals to force firms to audit and publish their pay packets by gender is an essential start and part of the way to change the game around wage differentials.
The big difference, of course, would come from increasing the legal minimum wage as such a large part of the low-wage workforce is female. A £10 minimum wage is feasible, realistic and overdue.
WOMEN in Scotland will earn £191,132 less over their lifetime than men because of the gender pay gap, analysis has revealed.
The Labour research shows that in every age group, women working full time earn less than men.
It adds up to an average of £191,132 over a woman’s working life.
Jackie Baillie MSP, Scottish Labour’s economy spokeswoman, said it was “shameful” that under the SNP and the Tories women were earning less than men over the course of their careers.
She added: “Closing the gender pay gap isn’t just a question of fairness – it is essential for our economy.
“There is so much more to do to shatter the glass ceiling for women. Only Labour will take the radical steps to close the pay gap for good, like a real living wage and forcing companies to publish pay ratios.
“If companies think a woman is worth a lower wage than a man then under Labour, we’ll force them to admit it.”
Labour’s plan to close the gender pay gap includes fines to ensure compliance on pay, auditing more firms, publishing pay ratios and introducing a £10 an hour real living wage.