Gender pay gap narrows
Tessa Jowell today welcomed the announcement of a minor narrowing in the gender pay gap by 0.6 per cent over the past twelve months, to 17.2 per cent.
“It is excellent news that the gender pay gap is now at its lowest level in 30 years since the introduction of the Equal Pay Act,” she said.
“In 1975, women earned 70p for every £1 a man received, while today women receive 83p.”
But her view was rejected by equality campaigners the Fawcett Society, who pointed out that at the present rate it would take 80 years for women to be paid the same hourly full-time rate as men.
Senior policy officer Kate Bellamy said: “Every thinking person would agree that it’s not right for women to be paid less than men – but that’s what still happens even after 30 years of equal pay legislation.”
And she accused the government of not doing enough to bring about change.
“The government has expressed concern about the pay gap, but failed to act,” Ms Bellamy added.
