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Councils are set for a fresh headache over equal pay from tough new laws aimed at boosting rights for women and minorities. Under new legislation, local authorities will be breaking the law, if they do not publish a percentage figure showing how much more men are paid than their female colleagues. As part of the new Equalities Bill, set out by Labour deputy leader, Harriet Harman, public bodies will have an enforceable duty to help reduce inequality caused by class disadvantage. Education authorities will be given a new duty to encourage parents from poor backgrounds to apply for successful schools in their area. The Government backed the publication with statistics revealing that, on average, women working full-time receive 17% less than male colleagues, and female part-time workers are paid 36% less. It followed a government report which revealed access to top professions, including senior public service jobs, was still restricted to white, middle-class males who were privately educated. Ms Harman said: ‘We are saying that having a more fair, equal, less divided society is better, not just for the individual, but the economy and society as a whole.' As part of the plans, regional development agencies are to be given powers to amend criteria for grants so that more successful bids were made from deprived areas. The Government has committed not to use this power before 2013 and it will only be used if sufficient progress on reporting has not been made. Details of how the figures should be compiled will be worked out by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission later in the year. Unison's director of organising and membership, Bronwyn McKenna, said: ‘Too few women currently get equal pay through the courts. It is a lengthy and costly process which forces women to jump over numerous technical hurdles.'

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WHITEHALL

Equal pay laws set to hit councils hard

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