Committee publication · Correspondence · 15 July 2026 · HC 280
Correspondence from Minister for Equalities and Minister for Social Security & Disability re Equal pay and pay discrimination, dated 14 July 2026
From: Women and Equalities Committee
Inquiry: Work of the Minister for Women and Equalities (2026-27)
Summary
Ministers for Equalities and Social Security jointly notify the Women and Equalities Committee that a government consultation on equal pay and pay discrimination will be published shortly. The consultation proposes reforms to simplify the current framework, extend protections to ethnic minorities and disabled workers, prevent outsourcing-based avoidance of equal pay, and establish an enforcement unit. The letter frames these as delivering manifesto commitments while addressing the complexity and delays that currently plague the system.
Key findings
- Government will consult on making equal pay rights effective for ethnic minority and disabled people and preventing employers from using outsourcing to avoid equal pay obligations
- Proposes establishing an equal pay regulation and enforcement unit with trade union involvement
- Current system described as excessively complex and costly, with tens of thousands of claims stuck and cases taking a decade or more to resolve
- Consultation will cover proactive pay discrimination prevention, enforcement empowerment, and dispute resolution simplification, alongside pay transparency measures where evidence supports them
- Reform approach is phased, seeking to fix the system first before broadening protections; includes proposals to protect employers from unforeseen liabilities for historic practices
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Seema Malhotra MP, Sir Stephen Timms MP, Sarah Owen MP, Women and Equalities Committee, Office of Equality Officers (OEO), Trade unions
Notable line
“With tens of thousands of claims stuck in the system and cases taking a decade or more to resolve, workers are trapped in endless litigation and employers face intractable uncertainty.”
Key Quotes
“We recognise that the current equal pay framework has become excessively complex, costly, and protracted for everyone who uses it.”
“With tens of thousands of claims stuck in the system and cases taking a decade or more to resolve, workers are trapped in endless litigation and employers face intractable uncertainty.”
“We want to get this right, working in partnership with businesses, unions and workers to ensure the system works effectively for everyone.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗