Regulation to ease gender pay gap no answer
Private business pressure group the Forum of Private Business says the Women and Work Commission (WWC) is right to resist union attempts to impose onerous new red tape on small firms to narrow the pay gap.
The FPB supports recommendations in the WWC 'Shaping a Fairer Future' report launched yesterday at Downing Street to improve vocational training for women and steer them away from stereotypical professions.
The FPB's Campaigns Manager Victoria Carson said small firms are crying out for skilled workers to fill jobs. "Small firms want the best person for the job whether they are male or female,' she said." But the small business sector, which drives 51% of UK turnover employing 12 million people, is being held back by a lack of skilled people. So the drive for more employer training schemes, skills coaches and childcare programmes are all warmly welcomed. Fundamentally there is a desperate need to broaden the expectation of girls at school and encourage them to find out more about business and the rewards of entrepreneurship."
Recommendations by the WWC include:
- £20m in government funding to raise skill levels
- Promotion of quality part-time work
- Matching jobs and skills locally
- Development and training of 'equality representatives'
- Better careers advice for schoolgirls