Employers told to disclose gender pay gap bonuses

Large firms in the UK will be forced to publish details on the amount awarded in bonuses to male and female employees as part of proposed legislation by David Cameron to “eradicate” gender inequality in the work place.

The prime minister has described the gender pay gap as "a standing rebuke to our country" adding that this legislation aims to eradicate gender inequality and remove barriers to women’s success.

The regulations will apply to businesses in England, Wales and Scotland with more than 250 employees, which covers around 10 million workers across the country. The new rules will force large firms, including the public sector, to publish information about bonuses paid out to men and women as part of their gender pay gap reporting. The hope is to bring women's earnings in line with those of men, who earn on average 19.1 percent more.

The move is the first of a wider plan to help women, black and minority ethnic groups across Britain as part of the government’s determination to extend “opportunity to all”.

Government trying to eradicate the gender pay gap

Other measures include a target to eliminate all-male boards in the UK’s top 350 companies, with an aim to getting women into a least a quarter of boardroom seats, following the success of the drive for the FTSE 100 companies.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “You can’t have true opportunity without equality. There is no place for a pay gap in today’s society and we are delivering on our promises to address it.”

Minister for Women and Equalities Nicky Morgan added: “Governing as one nation means ensuring everyone is given a fair shot to succeed, regardless of their gender. That’s why, from the opportunities women are given in school to the ability to move up the executive pipeline, we are determined to tackle the barriers to women achieving their all.

“Business has made huge amounts of progress already in recent years – the gender pay gap is the lowest since records began, but it should appal us all that, 100 years on from the Suffragette movement, we still don’t have gender equality in every aspect of our society.”

A report into a government-commissioned review of the gender pay gap is expected to be published in the coming months.