Government announces membership of new commission to tackle gender pay gap

PAY DISCRIMINATION

Government announces membership of new commission to tackle gender pay gap

Trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt has announced the membership and terms of reference of the Women and Work Commission, which will make recommendations to the government on tackling the pay gap between men and women.

The creation of the Women and Work Commission was announced by the Prime Minister in July 2004. The Commission will investigate the pay gap over the next 12 months, meeting monthly, before reporting to the Prime Minister.

Membership

The members of the Women and Work Commission are:

Chair: Baroness Margaret Prosser of Battersea

Members:

• Sarah Anderson -- Chief Executive, the Mayday Group
• Chris Banks -- Chair of National Learning and Skills Council
• Kay Carberry -- Assistant General Secretary, TUC
• Naaz Coker -- Chair, Refugee Council & Chair, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust
• Debbie Coulter -- Deputy General Secretary, GMB
• John Cridland -- Deputy Director-General, Confederation of British Industry
• John Hannett -- General Secretary, USDAW
• Sally Hopson -- Retail and Managing Director (North Division), Asda
• Adeeba Malik -- Deputy Chief Executive of Quest for Economic Development
• Stella Manzie -- Chief Executive, Coventry City Council
• Julie Mellor -- Chair, Equal Opportunities Commission
• Christine Ray -- HR Director, The Rank Group
• Ruth Silver -- Principal, Lewisham College
• Liz Snape -- Head of Policy Development, Unison.

The gender pay gap currently stands at 18% for full-time workers. Although the gap has closed gradually over the last 30 years since the 1975 Equal Pay Act, the government has decided to investigate the underlying factors which mean that average pay for women is lower than that for men.

Terms of reference

The Women and Work Commission's full terms of reference are available at www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/detail.asp?ReleaseID=130626& NewsAreaID=2& NavigatedFromDepartment=False

Want to know more?

More information about the Women and Work Commission will be available shortly from www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk

Posted 7 October 2004