£2m scheme to help women into better-paid jobs

The government has set up a £2m scheme to help women into better-paid and higher-skilled jobs.

There is a concern that despite more women being in work than ever before, some are still not being given the training or opportunities that are afforded to men in the same position.

Closing the gender pay gap has been a long-term goal for all governments since the 1970s, and it has been almost removed completely for full-time workers under the age of 40.

However, women in part-time work or over the age of 40 are still being paid less than their male counterparts. The main reason for this is that women over 40 tend to be in lower paid professions than men.

The government has now made £2m available for training and mentoring programmes for women to increase their skill-set and knowledge, giving them more appeal for potential employers.

Women working in retail, hospitality, agriculture and STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) will all be eligible to benefit from the scheme.

Employers are also being advised to review their staffing and payroll, to make sure everyone’s wages accurately reflect their contribution.

The Minister for Women and Equalities, Jo Swinson, said: “Addressing the gender pay gap is vital if we are to build a stronger economy and a fairer society. We must use all avenues possible. Companies also need to be sure they are rewarding their staff fairly rather than waiting for their female staff to complain.”

It is good to see measures being introduced to close the gender pay gap because many women still earn less than men even though they do comparable work. Anyone who feels they are being discriminated against in this way should seek legal advice as they may be entitled to compensation.

Please contact Jackie Cuneen if you would like more information about the issues raised in this article, or any other aspect of employment law.