EQUAL PAY DAY

Early day motion 705, tabled 16 November 2015 by Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party). Signed by 36 members.

That this House welcomes the Fawcett Society's Equal Pay Day, held on 9 November 2015; believes that many women are effectively working the remainder of this year for free due to the gender pay gap, currently at 14.2 per cent; acknowledges the gender pay gap is at nearly 55 per cent in the two per cent of earners; further welcomes the fact that Scotland has experienced a substantially lower level of gender inequality, but recognises further work is necessary to achieve parity; perceives that the very little progress made in closing the salary gap between men and women means it will take 54 years to reach parity at current rates; calls on the Government to commit to the Prime Minister's promise to end the gender pay gap in a generation; and recommends that the Government follows the advice of the TUC to introduce pay transparency, equal pay audits, and a requirement for companies to tackle gender inequality.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 20, Labour 6, Plaid Cymru 3, Independent 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Green 1.