Mandatory pay audits would have little impact on gender pay gap, says CBI

EQUAL PAY AUDITS

Mandatory pay audits would have little impact on gender pay gap, says CBI

Girls need to study science and maths so that they are equipped to enter traditionally male dominated, higher paid sectors, according to the Confederation of British Industry.

The employers' organisation reckons that this together with increased help for working mothers would do far more to close the gender gap than the introduction of compulsory pay audits.

In its submission to the Women and Work Commission, CBI deputy director-general John Cridland said: "Many employers already undertake equal pay audits but as part of their wider work on gender equality. Making pay audits compulsory would have little impact on the gender pay gap but would put a real burden on companies. Gathering and analysing the data would be a big task. Many small firms would not have the resources or expertise."

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For more details about the Confederation of British Industry's submission to the Women and Work Commission visit the CBI web site at www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/0363c1f07c6ca12a8025671c00381cc7/f2680f29f7e72f4080256fc000557c76?OpenDocument

Posted 22 March 2005