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Statement on Close the Pay Gap campaign

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Carwyn Jones, Minister for Open Government
  • The ‘Close the Pay Gap’ campaign has been running for the past year and has made a great start to addressing the problems of equal pay for men and women.

  • This campaign was initiated because of a report called ‘The Gender Pay Gap in Wales’ produced by a team from the University of Wales, Swansea.

  • The report showed that 30 years after the Equal Pay Act, women’s wages in Wales were on average 13% lower the wages of men.

  • For part-time workers, women are even worse off.

  • Independent research has also shown that even when women and men with the same characteristics are employed in the same industries and occupations, women have lower average earnings.

  • Evidence also showed that men and women who were covered by a national collective agreement had higher average earnings than equivalent workers who were not covered.

  • Also, on average, women’s weekly earnings were higher in the public than the private sector, partly due to higher rates of trade union membership in the public sector.

  • Acknowledging that there is a problem can be an important step forward.

  • Doing something about it is even more important.

  • From our own perspective, the Welsh Assembly is committed to a Wales where fairness, justice and equality are fundamental to all we do.

  • For our leadership role to be effective, it was seen as important that we first put our own house in order.

  • The Welsh Assembly undertook its own internal audit of staff, pay and grading structures.
  • This enabled us to make adjustments and increases to recognise the talent and diversity of our Civil Service staff.

  • We want to lead by example and have done so showing we are committed to working for a democratic and inclusive society that benefits all our people.

  • As a result the Assembly has won a Castle Award recognising the great achievements of the Equal Pay Audit.

  • It is not only a statutory obligation, but Assembly Members recognise that it is our moral duty to work towards making Wales an inclusive society.

  • Having taken our own moral stance, as a Government, it is then our task to be as effective as possible in taking the message to all sections of society.

  • Our strategy in the Welsh Assembly, is one of partnership.

  • The ‘Close the Pay Gap’ campaign, which was launched in partnership with the Equal Opportunities Commission and Wales TUC, has not only aimed to raise awareness of equal pay issues but has developed constructive tools for both the private and public sector.

  • Through seminars, CD-Roms, publications, media and advertising the campaign has aimed to encourage private and public sector employers to address the inequalities in pay. ‘Equal Pay Review Kits’ produced as part of the campaign can be used to identify and resolve pay inequalities.

  • Pay reviews help employers to plan for the future but most important is that open and fair pay systems improve staff morale and send a positive message to staff that they are valued.
  •  It is also important to consider the educational aspects.

  • Many of us, think, that gender stereotyping is no longer an issue.
  •  In fact, figures released last year by the Equal Opportunities Commission show that at GCSE level, girls make up 94% of all home economic lessons, while boys account for 65% of PE lessons

  • Stereotype trends are just as noticeable in the workforce.

  • We recognise the demands on the workforce and that the workforce needs to adapt to succeed.

  • It is critically important for us to increase the pool of talent from which we recruit.  We need to breakdown the stereotypes and offer equal pay for the work of equal value.  We need to recruit more women into all areas of work.


  • Late last year, the Equal Opportunities Commission launched a resource pack for schools.

  • The ‘What’s Stopping You?’ pack aims to show children they can succeed in careers or subjects regardless of their sex.

  • It was prepared for teachers and career-advisers as a tool for helping to break down barriers and stereotypes.

  •  From our own perspective, in the space of nearly four years we have created a democratic Welsh Policy.


  • The Welsh Assembly has the most gender-balanced legislature and cabinet anywhere in the world.

  • We see the Equal Pay Campaign, ‘Closing the Pay Gap’ as an essential part of our agenda for the future.

  • We need to carry on the good work of this campaign to take forward the Assembly agenda tackling poverty, social exclusion and economic regeneration.

  • Partnership has been the key and we must continue to work with the EOC and Wales TUC.

  • An assessment of the campaign’s effectiveness is already being explored.  We need to determine what has worked and how effective it has been.

  • Gender related statistics are vital in providing data and must be improved.

  • We must continue to persuade and encourage all employers to complete pay reviews and push for equal pay.

  • The campaign must also target specific sectors such as finance, retail and tourism.

  • The voluntary bodies need to be included particularly those funded by the Assembly.  As well as the Assembly Sponsored Bodies.

  • The Assembly itself must continue to look not only at pay but also at the work/life balance of its employees.  The extra responsibilities that fall on women as part of a family should not affect their careers or earning capacity.

  • Those businesses that supply to and support the Assembly must be included as a matter of ethics.

  • The Assembly has not only been involved in this successful campaign to ‘Close the Pay Gap’ but has begun to implement the policy to improve the work and lifestyle of its employees.

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