The Women and Equalities Committee of the House of Commons conducted an inquiry to inform Government strategy on reducing the gender pay gap, focusing on women aged over 40. The inquiry was launched in November 2015. The Society responded to the inquiry. The Committee published a report today highlighting the lack of effective policy in many of the areas that contribute to the gender pay gap. It found that the key causes of pay differentials are: the part-time pay penalty; women’s disproportionate responsibility for childcare and other forms of unpaid caring; and the concentration of women in highly feminised, low paid sectors like care, retail and cleaning.
