Ethnicity Pay Gap Day: 8 January 2021

The United Kingdom has launched Ethnicity Pay Gap Day on 8 January 2021.

The founder of the #EthnicityPayGap,Director of Equilibrium Mediation Consulting, Dianne Greyson,said the aim is toraise awareness around the issue. According to the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS), most minority ethnic groups continue to earn less than their White colleagues. ONS statistics reveal that there is 23.8% ethnicity pay gap in London, 12.7% in Yorkshire and Humberside, and 10.3% in Scotland.

“Surprisingly, many people don’t realise there is a gap, nor how big it actually is,” said Greyson. However, she hopes Ethnicity Pay Gap Day will change that. “It’s a day not only to raise awareness about the issue nationally, but also for people and organisations to come together in solidarity to urge the government to make Ethnicity Pay Gap Reporting mandatory,” she added.

“Companies need to explore their ethnicity pay gaps and why they exist. They also need to engage Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff on how to address those gaps,” she added. And also to gather data and report on their pay differences. Greyson is urging employers to start work on closing the gaps, and not to wait for mandatory legislation.

Dianne Greyson established the campaign in 2018 against discriminatory employers. Last week, the UK Government confirmed plans to debate Ethnicity Pay Gap reporting, after more than 100,000 individuals signed a petition in June 2020. But no date has yet been set.

She recommends that businesses start finding out exactly where the gaps are, then ensure that plans to capture and report ethnicity pay gap data are adequately embedded in the company’s strategy to address any discrepancies.

MARTINA NICOLLS

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MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of: The Paris Residences of James Joyce (2020), Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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