New research has established that it will take until 2041 to close the gender pay gap.
The women and equalities committee, a cross-party group of MPs, found that at the current rate of progress it will take twenty four years for the shortfall to be eliminated, reports The Financial Times.
When Theresa May came into power last summer she pledged to reach pay equality within a generation, but the committee warned that if changes are not made soon, the government is unlikely to hit this target.
Maria Miller, the committee’s chair, said it “deeply disappointing” that the government had not put into place its recommendations.
“We made practical, evidence-based recommendations to address these issues. They were widely supported by a range of stakeholders including businesses, academics, and unions,” Miller commented.
The majority of the committee's recommendations for improving gender equality in the workplace - including flexible working and childcare support - were rejected by the government.
In 2016, the gender pay gap for all employees was still 18.1%, with the biggest disparity found in the financial services industry.
On a more positive note, from April 2018 all companies with 250 plus employees will have to publish detailed data regarding gender pay imbalances. A small step in the right direction…
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