The Women and Equalities Committee criticised the government’s response to the proposals put forward in its report last March that aimed to eradicate the gender pay gap, as last week, a survey by insurance company AXA revealed that the number of women in the construction industry remains incredibly low – only 5.2% of the total workforce., though about 40% of IHBC’s members are female.
The Committee report made 17 recommendations to help solve the issue that included key areas such as tackling underpaid part-time work and greater flexible working; shared parental leave; supporting women back in to the workplace and addressing low wages in traditionally female dominated professions.
Committee Chair Maria Miller said: ‘The Government says there is no place for a gender pay gap in modern Britain and has restated its pledge to end the pay gap within a generation. But without effectively tackling the key issues of flexible working, sharing unpaid caring responsibilities, and supporting women aged over 40 back into the workforce, the gender pay gap will not be eliminated’.
She said that: ‘We made practical, evidence-based recommendations to address these issues. They were widely supported by a range of stakeholders including businesses, academics, and unions. It is deeply disappointing that our recommendations have not been taken on board by Government’.
See the Axa survey
