Office For Equality

The government opened a 15‑week consultation aimed at reforming the equal pay system after research showed the existing framework is slow, complex and ineffective at preventing discrimination for women, ethnic minorities, disabled people and outsourced workers. Proposed reforms include increasing pay transparency, speeding up discrimination claims, and creating an Equal Pay Regulation and Enforcement Unit. A second phase would expand protections related to race, disability and sex and address outsourcing arrangements. Government ministers and stakeholder organisations expressed support for the consultation, emphasising the importance of fairness, transparency and stronger enforcement to reduce pay gaps and improve workplace equality.