Through a focus on equal pay and the gender pay gap, this event will situate Wales’ distinct approach to tackling workplace inequalities within the UK legislative and policy context - exploring how lessons from the past can inform future approaches. Reflecting on the 50 years since the Equal Pay Act of 1970, speakers will discuss the significance of the shifting devolution landscape and how this has been utilised, highlighting opportunities, aspirations, limitations, and challenges so far.

Looking to the future and the Welsh Government’s intention to reinvigorate the Welsh Specific Equality Duties and set out how to meet the new national milestone to address gender, ethnicity and disability pay ‘differences’, the discussions will focus on how to close the ‘implementation gap’ between ambition and outcomes.

The event is linked to the AHRC-funded research project ‘Gender Equalities at Work: an interdisciplinary history of 50 years of legislation’, a cross-university collaboration between the University of Edinburgh, University College London and the University of the West of England. The project commissioned Dr Alison Parken to consider the Welsh context, and her report ‘Addressing Pay Inequalities in Wales – Past, Present and Future’ will be launched at the event.

Co-Chairs

Jane Hutt (Minister for Social Justice)

Hannah Blythyn (Deputy Minister for Social Partnership)

Speakers

Professor Hazel Conley (Business School, UWE) - Conceptualising Pay ‘Equality’ Across Time
Professor Colm O’Cinneide (School of Laws, UCL) - Setting the Scene: Legislative Context and Implementation Level (UK and devolution)
Dr Ashlee Christoffersen and Professor Fiona Mackay (Edinburgh University) - The Scottish Comparison: Equalities Policy and Architectures in Scotland.
Dr Alison Parken (Business School, Cardiff University) - Addressing Pay Inequalities in Wales – Past, Present and Future (overview of report).

Round-table discussion

Shavanah Taj - General Secretary, Wales TUC

Wayne Vincent - Principal, Equality and Human Rights Commission Wales

Participants will be invited to put questions in the event chat, which will be addressed at the end of the session.

Addressing Pay Inequalities in Wales - Past, Present and Future