It must be said, I’m not the biggest fan of the Conservative government. But it also must be said their decision to review the pay gap in the UK is a huge step in the right direction for overall gender equality in Britain.
It was suggested by the Lib Dems in the last government and proposed in the Tories’ manifesto, but to finally see it being discussed in Parliament is progress I thought I’d never see.
In April, the gender wage gap in the UK was 9.4% compared to a 10% a year earlier.[1] It’s now one of the smallest in the European Union. But there’s still a way to go. 9.4% is still a gap and a significant one at that.
Mr Cameron wants to eliminate the gender wage gap ‘within a generation,’ which is a bold statement considering their reputation. The consultation, launched today, will…
also seek views on what more can be done to encourage girls to consider the widest range of careers, support parents returning to work and help women of all ages reach their full potential and have the security of a well-paid job. [2]
Hurrah! My view is this can only be a good thing. Ultimately, the UK economy will benefit, having more fully qualified workers in appropriate jobs. Its win-win.
The Conservative plan is to increase transparency when talking about wages and salaries, as well as putting pressure on companies of more than 250 employees to publish the average wage of men and women. Rather than introducing legislation to force companies to give equal pay to their male and female employees, the new plans aim to create greater freedom of speech and clarity of information around the subject, which, in turn, should put pressure on larger company’s to reduce their specific wage gaps by virtue of implicit coercion.
It’s not a bad idea.
In fact, it’s fantastic. Our government shouldn’t have to force the idea of gender equality on our society, just encourage it. Equality is not something that should need a law next to it, enforcing it. Equality has connotations of freedom and peace, when we achieve it. Put a ruling next to it, a set-standard for everyone to abide by, and it becomes a burden, it becomes resented. Forcing people to love and care and respect is not a logical move, nor is it reasonable. It’s ludicrous. You can’t force someone to care when they don’t.
Influencing them, encouraging them to though, is a different issue.
For once, the Conservatives have done right by me. It may not be tomorrow that we see changes. It probably won’t be next week. But their strategy is one that will, in due course, ensure that the gender pay gap is closed, and stays closed.
Cameron’s announcement says nothing though about support for women who want to take time off work to have children, or support for men who want to take time to help raise their children, two issues that have been paramount in creating the wage gap in the first place, but I believe it is a start. Childcare and work may be an entirely new kettle of fish to open in the near future, but it’s there on the back burner.
Now, what about the ethnic pay gap Mr. Cameron?
References:
[1] Statistics from this article on the BBC website.
[2] The original article, detailing David Cameron and the Conservative’s plans.
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