Now government unit could let you find out how much your colleague is paid

• The government is considering new measures to overhaul equality laws and end pay discrimination, potentially requiring businesses to disclose salary bands in job adverts and inform workers of colleagues' earnings.
• A new Equal Pay Regulatory Unit may be established with the power to issue fines, change employment contracts, offer advice, and provide mediation to address gender, race, and disability-based pay discrimination.
• Business groups have expressed concerns that mandatory salary disclosure could hinder their ability to attract and retain staff, while the government has rejected suggestions that such measures would penalise middle-class individuals.
• Recruitment site Indeed suggests that job seekers would welcome pay transparency, as it helps employees feel valued, identify better opportunities, and promotes a healthier labour market.
• The Federation of Small Businesses has cautioned that some proposed measures may not be suitable for small businesses, many of which hire through informal networks and lack dedicated HR departments.

IN FULL

Businesses could be forced to tell you how much your colleagues are paid