Overview

This bill amends the Equal Pay Act 1970 and makes provisions regarding flexible working. It introduces equal pay audits for employers found to have violated equal pay laws and removes age restrictions on requests for flexible working contracts.

Description

This bill makes two key changes to existing employment law:

Equal Pay Act 1970 Amendment:

The bill adds a clause to the Equal Pay Act 1970. Employers will now be able to justify unequal pay if it is "objectively justified as reasonable." If an employer is found to have violated equal pay law, they must conduct an "equal pay audit" and make the results publicly available in a manner to be determined by the Secretary of State.

Flexible Working Amendment:

The bill removes the age restrictions on employees' ability to request flexible working arrangements under the Employment Rights Act 1996. Previously, there were restrictions on who could make this request.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending figures. However, there may be costs associated with enforcement of the new equal pay audit requirements and potential legal challenges.

Groups Affected

• Employers: Face new obligations regarding equal pay audits and potentially increased legal liabilities for pay discrepancies.
• Employees: Benefit from the removal of age restrictions on flexible working requests. Those experiencing unequal pay may benefit from the equal pay audit provisions.
• Employment Tribunals: Will see an increased workload due to potential challenges resulting from the new provisions.

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