SCOTTISH ministers are being urged to develop an “overarching strategy” to tackle the gender pay gap, with a committee of MSPs insisting that Scotland could be a “world leader” in promoting greater equality.
Members of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy Jobs and Fair Work Committee have made a series of recommendations, which they believe could “set the groundwork” for this task.
Suggestions include giving “serious consideration” to increasing the wages for care workers — most of whom are female — to a level above the Living Wage. This would not only help reduce the gender pay gap, but would also encourage more men to work in the care sector, the report said.
Close the Gap, Scotland’s gender and labour market experts, welcomed the Holyrood report which finds clear economic gains to closing gender pay gap, worth up to £17 billion to Scotland’s economy.
Close the Gap’s executive director Anna Ritchie Allan said: “The pay gap is an indicator of women’s persistent labour market inequality, and history has shown us that tinkering around the edges of a systemic problem doesn’t create change. This is why we enthusiastically welcome the call for a national strategy, the key ask from Close the Gap.
“The pay gap is a structural problem which requires a cohesive, strategic response to address its many inter-related causes. It’s time to translate the rhetoric around the pay gap into substantive action, and create meaningful change for women.
“We also welcome the Committee’s findings on the undervaluation of women’s skills, a critical economy-wide problem, and the recommendation that care be a priority sector. Care work is grossly undervalued and low-paid because it’s seen as ‘women’s work’. Scotland needs economic development policy that recognises care as essential infrastructure that enables the economy to function.
“The Committee recognises that the solutions to the pay gap are varied and complex, and requires action from a broad range of stakeholders. Now is the time for Scottish Government to show leadership, and demonstrate its commitment to realising equality for women at work.”
MSPs also want the Scottish Government to set a target for tackling the issue in the National Performance Framework, setting out what should be achieved by when, arguing this would “help focus efforts”.
While the Scottish Government calculates the gender pay gap in Scotland to be six per cent, MSPs said they were “not persuaded that this accurately and conclusively” represents the difference between male and female earnings.
Instead they said the overall hourly pay gap of 16 per cent was a “more representative picture of the gender pay gap in Scotland”.
Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “Closing the gender pay gap is a priority, both in terms of promoting equality and boosting economic growth, and we will consider this report carefully.
“We are already taking decisive action to address the issue, including transforming early learning and childcare to support more women back into work, as well as taking measures to challenge pregnancy and maternity discrimination.”
Debbie Crosbie, Clydesdale Bank’s Group chief operating officer and an executive director, who has been working in the financial industry for more than 25 years, said: “I’d say my experience has been very positive. I’ve always worked closely with people who have forward-thinking attitudes, who actively want to encourage young women and their potential.”
Karla Stevenson has been with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service since 2000, rising from part-time firefighter in the Highlands to full-time watch manager in Edinburgh. She said: “The men you work with know you wouldn’t be there if you weren’t capable, and I think that helps create a feeling of equality.”
Karen Pickering, a director with Glasgow-based Page/Park Architects, said: “We’re now an employee-owned architects firm, and for that reason probably more equal and transparent than other practices. But it wasn’t always like this.
“Back when I joined, I had only one female colleague. She left shortly afterwards, and I was the sole woman. “
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