British Government Proposes Law That Would Require Companies To Disclose Pay Scales By Gender

January 6, 2009 1:05 p.m. EST

London, England (AHN) - A bill pending in the British Parliament would require companies to publish their yearly payrolls with specific data on salaries for male and female employees. The Equality Bill is expected to highlight the gender gap when it comes to salaries.

According to a report published in November by the Office of National Statistics, British men receive 17.1 percent more wages for full-time employment compared to women. The gender gap is 36.6 percent for part-time work.

Based on real terms, the Equality and Human Rights Commission estimated female workers in Britain earn on the average $538,650 (369,000 pound) less during their lifetime than their male counterparts.

If the data would show women workers are earning less, the bill will offer assistance to the firms on how to train and upgrade their female employees. The bills seeks to shame companies that discriminate against female employees in terms of paying them smaller wages for the same work.