Firms told to publish salaries in job adverts ahead of new law
The goverment argues the change will help jobseekers and could help to prevent pay discrimination.
The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, is urging businesses to prominently display salary information in job advertisements prior to the enactment of a new law mandating this practice. The government is contemplating legislation to make salary details mandatory in advertisements, with the legislation to be introduced "as soon as possible."
This move aims to assist job seekers, particularly those applying for their first job, and potentially deter pay discrimination. However, an industry group expressed concerns that setting pay rates is a complex endeavor and that regulating advertisements may not be the most effective approach.
The Cabinet Office initiated a consultation on pay transparency and combating discrimination in the summer, which received "overwhelming support" from 94% of respondents. Prime Minister Burnham emphasized that job seekers of all ages should be aware of a position's pay before applying. This initiative aligns with efforts to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment, or training and complements moves towards reducing pay inequality.
Similar to proposed EU measures, UK employers would be required to disclose initial pay or the salary range for new roles, either in the job advertisement or before an interview. According to data from UK jobs website Adzuna, 51% of adverts featured salary information in September, but this figure has been declining in recent years.
Industry experts acknowledge that salary transparency can attract more suitable applicants, but employers often find it challenging to disclose salary details, as pay ranges can be extensive and may not accurately reflect individual skills and experience. The government plans to provide further details on required information and enforcement mechanisms in due course.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission also advocates for salary transparency and suggests that employers should refrain from inquiring about employees' salaries during the hiring process to mitigate discrimination.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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