Equal pay - international obligations

In October 2014, the UK introduced a new obligation on employment tribunals to order an employer to carry out equal pay audits in certain circumstances. 

Consultation is currently underway in relation to regulations which will require the publication of information showing whether there are differences in the pay of males and females.

This month, we take a high level look at international equal pay obligations and find that there are important differences in other jurisdictions - in France, for example, companies employing more than 300 employees, must prepare a specific annual report on the situation of women and men in the company. They should also implement measures to achieve equality. 

In Spain, companies which have 250 or more employees or more are required to have an equality plan. One of the requirements of an equality plan is that the employer must carry out an “equal pay diagnosis” (audit).