Local MP Katy Clark is calling for stronger equality laws to close the pay gap for women workers. The Government will be introducing an Equalities Bill in the coming months and the Member of Parliament for Ayrshire North and Arran is trying to ensure it is as strong as it can be and includes measures to tackle the wage inequality which still exists.

She said “Thousands of women locally know that the current equal pay legislation which was brought in through the Equal Pay Act in the 1970s is not working as it should, that it was ignored by many employers for years and that taking an equal pay case is a lengthy expensive and uncertain business.”

Ms. Clark said “I am very concerned at the current pay gap which still exists in the United Kingdom between men and women’s pay. It is appalling that in 2009 such a gap still exists for jobs of equal value. The average hourly pay gap between men and women is still around 17%. A select committee report in 2007 highlighted that it could be 2085 before the pay gap between men and women is closed.”

Ms Clark went on to talk about the valuable role that equal pay audits can have in changing an existing pay gap.

“I believe the Government needs to act now to address this situation and I welcome the introduction of an Equalities Bill laid out in the Queen’s Speech. I believe the Bill needs to introduce a duty not just on public sector organisations but particularly major employers in the private sector to carry out equality audits which need to be open and transparent and tougher penalties are required for companies who are shown to be conducting discriminatory practices. ”