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This comes too late for me, but good news for many women in the workplace....
New Bill will help to close pay gap
The recession is no time to let up in the drive for equal pay between men and women, deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman has said.
She said legislation to be introduced on Monday will take a "step forward" on equality by obliging companies to report on pay differences between men and women.
The Government was criticised by business leaders on Friday after it was revealed firms are to be forced by law to publish salary details of their staff.
The Equalities Bill will mean companies employing more than 250 workers will be encouraged to give pay details and if enough progress has not been made by 2013 on the gender gap, legislation will be brought forward.
Ms Harman told delegates at Welsh Labour's conference in Swansea that it was not fair that women were paid 20% less than men when they made up half the workforce.
"It's pay discrimination and it should not be left to the individual woman to explain - it should be down to the employer to explain and to justify if pay is unequal", she said.
The Bill will also give public authorities a duty to examine how they can narrow the gap between the rich and poor.
She added: "I think that when times are hard, fairness is even more important, that people feel that we are all in it together. Equality and fairness is necessary for a meritocracy. It is backward-looking societies which are characterises by rigid hierarchies, women knowing their place and oppression of gays and lesbians."
She hailed this week's Budget, saying that it was necessary to allow public borrowing to rise to fund spending that will make the recession as short and shallow as possible.
Referring to the creation of the new 50p top rate of income tax, she said: "We believe that fairness and equality is necessary and that when it comes to paying back the public debt those who have most should contribute most."
She hailed this week's Budget, saying that it was necessary to allow public borrowing to rise to fund spending that will make the recession as short and shallow as possible.
Lizx
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