CMA response to consultation on equal pay and pay discrimination

The CMA has responded to the Office for Equality and Opportunity’s consultation on reform of the current equal pay framework.

Our response focuses on the proposed requirement to disclose pay information in job advertisements. It is broadly supportive of improving pay transparency in recruitment and supports, in principle, requiring employers to publish pay information in job adverts. However, it notes these requirements should be designed carefully so that sharing certain types of pay information does not harm competition.

The response also sets out our views on how the requirement could be designed. It identifies 2 options:

• a binding minimum salary
• a pay range with a binding minimum and an indicative upper bound

We think these options may offer the best balance between improving information for jobseekers, promoting competition and allowing people to negotiate their pay.

For queries about the CMA’s response, please contact the CMA Advocacy Team:advocacy@cma.gov.uk.