Scrapping gender pay gap reporting for businesses risks turning the clock back for women at work, warns TUC

Commenting on government deregulation which will see businesses of less than 500 workers no longer required to report on gender pay gaps and executive pay ratios, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Make no mistake. These changes represent real threats to workers.

“Obligations on businesses which were put in place to help improve the lives of working people, like reporting on gender pay gaps and executive pay ratios, are set to disappear overnight for employers with less than 500 workers.

“Scrapping gender pay gap reporting for businesses up and down the country risks turning the clock back for women at work. And ditching reporting on pay ratios for these businesses will be a boon to greedy bosses.

“Yet again we are seeing reckless and cynical deregulation being pushed through with no consultation and no real thought for the impacts on working people.

“Not content with throwing the economy into turmoil, Tory ministers now have their sights set on business and employment regulation too.

“Let’s be clear. It’s not regulation that’s holding business back – it’s botched Tory economics which has led to low pay, depressed demand and continuous uncertainty.”