Employment Rights Bill is vital to gender equality

According to the TUC, the Employment Rights Bill is crucial for equal pay and women’s rights in the UK.

According to the union group, which made a comment on Fawcett Society Equal Pay Day (20 Nov), the new policies of the government will help to reduce the wage gap between men and women.

Paul Nowak, TUC General Secretary and TUC campaigner, said that the national campaign marks the day when women stop being paid due to the wage gap. “Our economy doesn’t work for women.” The gender pay gap will take 16 years to be closed at the current rate of progress. “This is why Labour’s Employment Rights Bill will be so important for women’s wages and equality.”

He thinks the bill will have a big impact by requiring employers to create clear action plans for how they plan to close their gender pay gap, rather than simply reporting it.

Nowak said: “We know that women are still responsible for the majority of caregiving responsibilities, which is a major factor in the gender pay gaps. Fixing the care issue is therefore critical to increasing their pay. Employment Rights Bill also includes a fair-pay agreement for social care to end the race to lower pay and conditions. This will help to recruit and retain staff.”

The TUC emphasized that other policies included in the bill will also help to close the gap. The TUC highlighted that other policies in the bill, which begins its committee stage on 25 November, will also help close the gap.