Female MPs launch #paymetoo campaign in bid to close gender pay gap
2 min read
Female MPs have launched an online campaign to close the gender pay gap called #paymetoo.
The effort is being led by high-profile Labour MP Stella Creasy, who is urging women to confront their employers over unfair pay disparities.
The campaign will provide advice and support for female staff seeking to increase their salaries to bring them in line with their male counterparts.
It comes as the deadline for firms to publish their gender pay gap approaches.
By law, all firms with over 250 employees must reveal the difference in the hourly rate they pay men and women before 4 April.
The #paymetoo campaign has cross-party support from female MPs including Labour’s Jess Phillips and Lucy Powell, Conservative MP Nicky Morgan, Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson, Christine Jardine and Layla Moran, the SNP’s Hannah Bardell and Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts.
Ms Creasy said: “If we are serious about tackling the gender pay gap then we have to do more than publish data – we have to show we’re watching what happens next…
“Women are already telling us that they are being told not to ask difficult questions about this for fear of affecting their careers and we want to be clear that trying to silence employees isn’t the right response.
“Every woman has her own story of experiencing pay discrimination in their careers including me – now they need to know they have MPs ready to listen to them and act.”
Ms Swinson added: “This year has revealed a lot but in subsequent years it will become increasingly difficult to hide.
“Warm words used by employers about how they are going to tackle the gender pay gap will be noted by workers and measured against the reality.”
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