The government has announced it’s to spend nearly £500,000 on helping organisations create more quality part-time jobs at senior level in a bid to reduce the gender pay gap.
Successful bidders for funds from the Quality Part Time Work Fund include Kelloggs, Tescos, Royal Mail, Durham Constabulary, three local authorities and four voluntary sector organisations.
Supporting employers to create more quality part-time and flexible posts was one of the commitments made in the government’s action plan last September, following a recommendation by the independent Women and Work Commission.
The fund is designed to open up more part-time jobs for women at a senior level through giving women the confidence to pursue part-time working and helping employers find ways to make it work. Organisations awarded funding had to demonstrate their commitment to the project and commit to sharing the lessons learnt with other employers.
Minister for women Ruth Kelly, said: “The part-time pay gap is still too wide with women working part-time earning 40 per cent less than men working full-time.
“As things stand, working part-time is concentrated in low-paid jobs and junior grades – this fund is designed to show employers that women can balance climbing the career ladder with their home lives.”
One year on from the Women and Work Commission’s report, the government has published further progress on its action plan in Towards a Fairer Future:
- From May 2007, careers advice will be free from stereotypical images and messages that assume there are ‘jobs for girls’ and ‘jobs for boys’
- £40 million is being invested to help women with low skills gain qualifications, develop their confidence and provide them with mentoring support
- £250 million is being spent on improving the skills and qualifications of those who teach under 5s, the majority of whom are women
- 115 employers have signed up to the Exemplar Employer scheme for companies and organisations that have particular schemes in place to support their female staff to balance work and family life.
Equal Opportunities Commission chairman Jenny Watson said: “We hope that this progress report will also be a wake up call to employers to avoid complacency about equal pay and to use women’s skills and talents better, following the lead of those exemplar employers who are already committed to change.
“Women are now nearly half the workforce and many continue to face serious pay penalties at work. It’s important that employers take steps to find out whether they have a pay gap and take swift action to close it.”
