Amanda Martin, Labour MP for , has highlighted new plans to make businesses ‘say what they pay’. The Labour government will make salary information mandatory in job adverts, as part of the Government’s wider work to tackle pay discrimination, close the gender pay gap and create a fairer jobs market.
Under the proposals, employers would be required to include clear salary information in job adverts, meaning jobseekers would no longer have to decipher vague terms such as ‘competitive salary’ or ‘generous perks’ to work out whether a job pays enough to support themselves and their families.
The plans are intended to help tackle pay discrimination, particularly against women, who too often face barriers to getting a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. When salaries are hidden, it can be harder to spot pay discrimination, challenge unfair differences in pay and ensure people are being paid fairly.
The changes would also benefit young people entering the workforce, making it easier for those at the start of their careers to find opportunities that meet their skills and pay the bills, without wasting time applying for jobs that do not offer the right salary.
Amanda Martin MP for Portsmouth North said: “People looking for work deserve honesty from employers. Applying for a job can be a major life decision, but too many applicants are expected to invest time and effort without knowing one of the
most important details: the salary.
While job adverts often set out every qualification, responsibility and expectation, many still fail to tell candidates what they will actually be paid.
That lack of transparency can reinforce existing inequalities, particularly for women, who continue to face barriers in securing equal pay. Bringing salaries into the open would help shine a light on unfairness and support greater accountability.
It would also give young people and working families the information they need to plan their futures with confidence. People should not have to guess whether a job will cover their rent, mortgage or childcare costs.
Employers across Portsmouth are already showing that publishing salary information is both straightforward and beneficial. These measures would help ensure that transparency becomes the norm rather than the exception. Put simply, if employers know what a job is worth, applicants should know too.”
Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson MP, said: “What a job pays is rightly at the forefront of people’s minds when looking for work – it shouldn’t be a guessing game.”
“It’s more important than ever today for people to know if a role will pay the bills or if you’re qualified enough for it. Mandatory salary information on job adverts will help young people make informed choices, help close the gender pay gap, and tackle an everyday annoyance that can stand in the way of applying for a job.
“Whether it’s a young person looking for their first job or a mum getting back into work, no-one should
have to enter an already daunting process salary blind.”
