Question reference: S5W-00375
- Date lodged: 1 June 2016
-
Current status: Answered by Keith Brown on 14 June 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help businesses address the gender pay gap.
Answer
Scotland has led the way since 1999 in narrowing the gender pay gap, which at 7.3% is currently the lowest in the UK and one of the lowest in the EU. However, that there is any pay gap at all in 2016 is unacceptable.
We know that there are many factors which influence the pay gap and we are providing practical support to businesses such as: funding the Close the Gap toolkit for small businesses on the benefits of improving gender diversity; funding initiatives to encourage businesses to adopt family friendly policies; and providing support to carers. These types of employer practices help women to enter and progress in the labour market and contribute towards narrowing the pay gap.