With Equal Pay Day sparking conversation about women’s rights and workplace inequality, the question is, when will the pay gap close if not in 2019?
Jeremy Corbyn shared his disapproval of the pay gap and promised in a tweet today that he’d close it by 2030.
George Penny, representative of the Cheltenham Labour Party said: “On a personal point I support this objective that we ensure people are treated equally.”
Labour plan to do this by taking measures such as extending statutory maternity pay from 9 to 12 months and introducing free childcare for all 2-4 year olds – because childbirth is when the pay gap starts to widen for many women. They also aim to raise the minimum wage to £10 an hour to achieve pay equality.
The Liberal Democrats have pledged to tackle the gender pay gap by influencing bigger companies to publish data on employment levels by gender, as well as for BAME and LGBT staff.
The equalities minister for the Lib Dems, Christine Jardine, has said they would push for an end to the so-called ‘pink tax’, where companies charge more for women’s products, such as razors and deodorant.
The Conservatives have not yet commented on the issue.