Call for action to narrow pay gaps

Universal flexible working and “use it or lose it” paternity leave should be introduced in a bid to reduce pay gaps, according to equality campaigners.

In a new policy document, the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland has called for firms to be consulted on reporting on not just gender pay gaps but also those relating to ethnicity and disability, and for annual statistics to be published.

Scotland Commissioner Lesley Sawers said women, ethnic minorities and disabled people should not have to accept “secondclass pay”.

The commission said women in Scotland are paid 15 per cent less on average than men, while ethnic minorities are paid 5.7 per cent less than white people, and disabled people face a pay gap of 13.6 per cent compared to their peers.

Encouraging employers to tackle bias in recruitment, promotion and pay to increase diversity at all levels in every sector is one of several recommendations in the commission’s new strategy paper.

Other recommendations include encouraging men and women to share childcare by introducing “use it or lose it” paternity leave, investing in sector-specific training and regional enterprise to improve work opportunities for all.