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Dept of Trade and Industry;Minister for Women

Answer

John Barrett: To ask the Minister for Women what action she has taken to support women to challenge pay discrimination in the workplace; and if she will make a statement. [142610] Ms Hewitt: The Government is taking action to make it easier for women who have been discriminated against to take up equal pay cases with their employers. This includes the introduction of a questionnaire procedure that will help resolve matters in the workplace and measures to simplify and speed up equal pay tribunal procedures. The equal pay questionnaire came into effect on 6 April 2003 and enables individuals to request key information from their employers right at the start when they are deciding whether to bring a case. The frequent lack of transparency on pay has helped perpetuate the gender pay gap. The questionnaire will help individuals, often women, to establish whether they actually are being paid less than their comparators and, if so, why. Establishing the key facts quickly could encourage the issues to be settled without resort to tribunal, benefiting both employers and employees. We are looking at further ways to speed up and simplify complex equal value cases and will be consulting on proposals shortly. The Government also believes that carrying out an equal pay review should be good business practice for every employer and has developed a number of initiatives to help them, including funding the Equal Opportunities Commission to develop equal pay tool kits.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

142610; 415 c1040W;415 c1039-40W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Disclosure of information Administrative delays Women Equality Employment Tribunals Service Equal pay Pay Questionnaires

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk