- Consultation over the Government's plan to require larger companies to publish pay information showing whether there is a gender pay gap closed in September. The response is awaited but in the meantime David Cameron announced that the measures would extend to bonuses. Meanwhile, the European Parliament has adopted a non-legislative Resolution calling on the European Commission to take action to decrease the gender pay gap, including to introduce mandatory pay audits for listed companies.
- Lord Davies published his final report on improving the gender balance on British boards on 29 October 2015, available here. The report noted that, at 1 October 2015, there are no male-only boards in the FTSE 100 and women hold 26.1% of board positions in those companies, compared to 12.5% in February 2011. Within the FTSE 250, women hold 19.6% of board positions, but there remain 15 male-only boards. The steering group does not believe quotas are warranted, but does state that further work is needed to increase the number of women holding executive positions (currently 9.6% within the FTSE 100). It recommended that a target should be set for female board representation in the FTSE 350 of 33% within five years.
- The Government has also announced that it is not pursuing the majority of its proposals in relation to reforming the law relating to picketing and protests, including its plans to require unions to publish in advance their plans for industrial action, pickets, or social media campaigns. Instead the Code of Practice on picketing will be improved and updated, particularly around social media use. Click here and here for further details.
- The Government is consulting until 23 November on proposed changes to the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations, including banning agencies from recruiting work-seekers solely from overseas EEA countries without advertising the relevant vacancies in Great Britain. Details are available here.
Key contacts
Steve Bell
Managing Partner - Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety (Australia, Asia), Melbourne
Emma Rohsler
Regional Head of Practice (EMEA) - Employment Pensions and Incentives, Paris
Disclaimer
The articles published on this website, current at the dates of publication set out above, are for reference purposes only. They do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking any action.