Race Equality Act would be “a welcome step forward” for BME workers
The TUC statement in support of the Labour Party's proposed Race Equality Act.
Commenting on the announcement that which would include mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting, Paul Nowak, TUC general secretary said:
“We all deserve to be treated fairly at work. But the structural racism in our jobs market means that too many black and minority ethnic workers are trapped in low-paid jobs, with limited rights and precious little opportunity for progression. And this Tory government has done nothing to change that.
“Labour’s Race Equality Act would be a welcome step forward for BME workers. It would finally start to tackle the discrimination that holds BME workers back by introducing a new duty on employers to report their ethnicity pay gaps. Everyone should have access, to a decent, secure job.”
Disability pay gap reporting
On Labour’s proposed introduction of mandatory disability pay gap reporting, Paul Nowak said:
“Labour’s mandatory disability pay gap reporting would help shine a light on this inequality and set about resolving it. Without this long overdue legislation, millions of disabled workers will be consigned to many more years of lower pay and in-work poverty.”
TUC analysis published in November showed the pay gap between non-disabled and disabled workers is now 14.6 per cent – higher than it was a decade ago.
Structural racism in the labour market: in December, TUC analysis revealed that BME women are nearly three times as likely to be on zero-hours contracts as white men.
Disability pay gap: in November, TUC analysis revealed that the pay gap between non-disabled and disabled workers is now 14.6% – higher than it was a decade ago.
TUC anti-racism taskforce: find out more information about the taskforce.