Burnham urges firms to publish pay in job adverts ahead of new law

Andy Burnham has urged businesses to publish salaries in job adverts ahead of a law that will make it mandatory. The government plans to introduce legislation to make companies legally required to display pay details on job advertisements before applicants submit their resumes, aiming to increase transparency. Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that this move will address job-seekers' frustrations, especially those applying for their first job, and could help reduce gender pay gaps.

Burnham emphasized the importance of job-seekers knowing the pay beforehand to avoid wasting time and effort on jobs that don't meet their expectations. He also highlighted the need for businesses to provide more opportunities for young people, empowering them to enter the workforce with confidence. The government's push for pay transparency follows Chancellor John Healey's announcement in the Autumn Budget, where he mentioned plans to introduce mandatory pay transparency in job adverts and tackle gender pay inequalities.

The EU's pay transparency directive, which requires companies to disclose starting salaries and pay ranges, has created a patchwork of compliance across member states. While the UK is not part of the EU, many multinational British companies still face challenges in implementing the directive, as some have delayed or not implemented it.